Grill chairman of Vibgyor High for hushing up rape incident, says BKC

The police and the department of public instruction (DPI) should haul in for questioning the chairman of Vibgyor High, Rustom Kerrawala, for “willful suppression” from the investigators of his knowledge of the rape in his institution, former minister for primary and secondary education Prof B K Chandrashekar has said.

Kerrawala can be prosecuted under Sections 176 and 202 of the Indian Penal Code, which prescribe punishment for withholding information while under an obligation to inform the authorities.

“The department has, although belatedly, done the right thing in notifying cancellation of the NoC and recommending to the ICSE board to de-recognise the school. I believe that the government will not yield to pressure from any source, community or political, to go soft on the school,” he said.

The department must also take action under the Right to Education (RTE) Act against the school for punishing young children by confining them in a dark room.

“It is reprehensible that a so-called elite school practises 19th-century notions of discipline. A number of schools still do so. The question remains, why didn’t the department adopt the guidelines for safety in schools suggested by the home department in 2013?

The education minister’s open confession in the Legislature that his officers are unresponsive, even arrogantly indifferent, to his own bidding clearly calls for stern action by the chief minister.

The minister needs all the support when he is himself willing to act,” Prof Chandrashekar said.

“My own suggestion to the government is that a small group of 4-5 people be set up to study the problematic issue and hold a series of interactive meetings with stakeholders such as women’s groups, parents, college and school representatives, police, media, lawyers and psychologists to formulate a set of actions within a short timeline,” he said.

As to the Frazer Town case, the government must consider dismissing Inspector Mohammed Rafique from service for refusing to record the charge of rape and for having gone missing for a day after the FIR was slapped on him, he added.