The Delhi High Court on Monday canceled the bail granted to a 57-year-old employee of a private school in Delhi’s Janakpuri area, accused of raping a three-year-old girl.
A bench of Justice Vinod Kumar directed the person to surrender before the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) court on July 1 at 2 pm.
“I have agreed with the state and the petitioners. Both the petitions are granted. The respondent is directed to surrender before the POCSO court on July 1 at 2 pm,” the court said while pronouncing the sentence.
A detailed copy of the ruling is awaited.
The ruling was issued in two appeals filed by the Delhi Police and the mother of the minor girl against the court’s May 7 order granting bail.
The police arrested the employee on May 1 and placed him in judicial custody, following a complaint filed by the girl’s mother at Janakpuri police station, alleging that her daughter was sexually assaulted during school hours on April 30, the second day after she was admitted to the school.
Police said the child complained of pain after returning home and later told her mother that she had been taken to an isolated area inside the school where the accused allegedly assaulted her. She then registered a case under Section 64 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act for rape of minors and Section 6 of the POCSO Act.
However, on May 7, he was released on bail with certain conditions and was asked to submit bail bonds $20,000.
Subsequently, on May 8, the Delhi government issued a show-cause notice to the school administration over the alleged rape of the minor girl on the school premises.
Highlighting serious concerns over safety, supervision of children and compliance with legal norms, the Directorate of Education (DoE) has warned that failure to provide a satisfactory response may result in derecognition of the school and even takeover of its management under the provisions of the Delhi School Education Act and Rules.
The Delhi Police, represented by Additional Solicitor General (ASV) SV Raju, moved the Supreme Court challenging the orders and said that since the child recognized the accused and the teacher in the test identification parade, it is clear that the bail should be cancelled.
The employee’s lawyer, KK Mannan, opposed the petition, asserting that no such incident had occurred.
