Principal sent notice for suspending kid

NEW DELHI: The High Court on Wednesday issued a notice to the principal and headmistress of Tagore International School (Vasant Vihar) for suspending a class I student and allegedly slapping his sister, a student of class VII, so hard that she now suffers from a hearing impairment. A hearing in the matter is scheduled for August 29.
In the petition, filed by the children's father, through advocate Arvind Gupta, it was alleged that the school suspended Luv Dua, studying in class I, for a week for "being naughty" and also called for a visit by his parents on July 31.The parents allege that during the meeting, the principal complained about Luv Dua's bad conduct and also made humiliating remarks about the parents encouraging such behaviour because they were Punjabi.
The petition further claims that on the same day, the principal called in Luv's older sister, Prakriti Dua, slapped her and roughed her up. On returning home with her shirt torn, the girl apparently complained to her parents that she was slapped and beaten for saying she eats her lunch from her home-packed tiffin box, but the principal thought she was lying. The girl added that the principal accused her of lying just like her family.
The petition further alleges that when the girl complained of pain in her left ear, she was referred to an ENT at DDU Hospital who confirmed damage to her ear. An audibility test too confirmed loss of hearing.
The petition urges the court to ask the director of education to investigate the matter and take appropriate action against the school, its principal and headmistress. A police complaint has been filed in the matter.
When contacted, Madhulika Sen, principal of Tagore International School, Vasant Vihar, admitted that the suspension was called for, but denied the beating episode took place. "Luv Dua has been a difficult child for us to handle. I called for his suspension because he had beaten up another child. We thought keeping him at home for a few days would help him realize his mistake. But to say I beat up his sister Prakriti is pure fabrication. I deny it. The allegation merits no response. We will respond in the court."
paulomi.mehta@timesgroup.com