Delhi’s school locks kids in basement for delay in payment of fees

Several students of a girls school in Old Delhi’s Hauz Kazi were detained on Monday afternoon by the school authorities for a delay in the payment of the tuition fees by their parents. However, the parents claim that they had paid the school fees, adding that even if there was a delay, this kind of treatment of their wards is unacceptable.

Police has registered a case under sections of wrongful confinement and Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act. Many students, the parents claim, do not wish to go to the school after the incident.

According to the police, the incident occurred at Rabea Girls Public School. As per one of the parents, when he reached the school to pick up his daughter, he could not find the children. The 16 girls were in KG and primary section.

“We asked the school staff who then informed us that the children have been kept in the basement since 7 am and the door was latched from outside. We opened the door and saw the children on the floor. The room was hot and had only two fans. Most of the children were thirsty and hungry,” said the parents.  

As per the FIR, when the parents asked the headmaster Farah Diba Khan, she misbehaved with them and stated that she would talk outside the school.