16-year-old ragging victim gets justice

Last June, Banwari Lal Patel’s 16-year-old daughter had to leave Bhilai’s Yugchetna Public School after she became a victim of ragging. At the school hostel, seniors had poured tomato ketchup in her ear, reports Ejaz Kaiser.

Last June, Banwari Lal Patel’s 16-year-old daughter had to leave Bhilai’s Yugchetna Public School after she became a victim of ragging. At the school hostel, seniors had poured tomato ketchup in her ear.

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The school never accepted her story. Now, the state consumer redressal commission has held that ragging had indeed taken place has ordered the school return the girl’s fees — Rs. 28,462. “It was the responsibility of the school to protect the student,” the commission said.

“The principal didn’t heed my daughter’s complaint. She was not even taken to a doctor when her ear got infected,” said Banwari Lal.

Later, Patel, a farmer, pleaded that the school return the fees. But the school claimed the girl had left as she could not adjust to the English milieu.