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Synopsis

The Madras High Court on April 8, 2024, stayed the police investigation against the management of a middle school in Coimbatore for taking 32 students in uniform to a roadshow by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 18, 2024.

The bench of Justice G. Jayachandran ordered the stay in a plea filed by the headmistress of the school to quash the FIR registered on March 19 based on a complaint by District Child Protection Officer.

The interim order was passed following the request made by Advocate-General P.S. Raman seeking time to submit a detailed counter-affidavit to the school headmistress' petition. 

On the last date, Justice Jayachandran had queried the prosecution about the application of Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 in the present matter. 

This section pertains to actions causing mental or physical suffering to children and was central to the judge's concerns in the case.

The judge had highlighted the far-reaching implications of the current case on issues involving children in political events. He had directed the law officer to prepare relevant case laws to argue the matter comprehensively during Monday's proceedings.

The Case:

The Coimbatore city police filed a First Information Report (FIR) under Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, based on a complaint by District Child Protection Officer Pavithra Devi on March 19 against the school.

The complaint alleged that 32 students were taken to a roadshow by their teachers without parental consent, as parents did not pick them up by 4 pm. 

However, headmistress S. Pukal Vadivu, in her petition to quash the FIR, asserted that the complaint was false and vindictive, emphasizing that the school took all necessary precautions. She argued that the allegations didn't merit Section 75 of the JJ Act and requested the FIR's dismissal.

Case Title: M/s S Pukal Vadivu v State

[Inputs: The Hindu]