Mumbai: The State government informed the Bombay High Court on Wednesday that it will issue a final Government Resolution (GR) within a week to enhance child safety in educational institutions across Maharashtra.
The GR follows recommendations by a state-appointed committee formed in the wake of the sexual assault of two minor girls at a Badlapur school in August 2024. The committee was tasked with reviewing existing safety norms and suggesting improvements.
Additional Public Prosecutor Prajakta Shinde told a bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Neela Gokhale that a consolidated GR — based on the committee’s recommendations and earlier resolutions — would be issued soon. “The GR is necessitated at the earliest, considering schools need sufficient time to comply before the next academic term,” she said.
The GR will make CCTV cameras on school premises mandatory, require character verification of staff, and hold schools accountable for student transportation. It also recommends teaching children to distinguish between good touch and bad touch.
Advocate Rebecca Gonsalves, appointed as amicus curiae, suggested including measures to tackle cyberbullying. Shinde assured the court these would be incorporated. Gonsalves further suggested that compliance reports be uploaded on school or departmental websites for public access.
Shinde said that the appropriate directions will also be issued in terms of the recommendations made by the Committee to the Aanganwadi, Aashram Shalas, and Juvenile Boards
The committee has also recommended that students be made aware of cybercrimes and that the toll-free child helpline number ‘1098’ be displayed prominently on campuses.
The High Court had taken suo motu cognisance of the Badlapur incident, which led to public protests and a rail blockade after inaction by the police and the school.
The state constituted the committee on August 23, 2024. It was later expanded by the High Court to include retired judges and asked to review all relevant GRs, circulars, and laws. The committee was also directed to recommend future safety measures and better implementation of the POCSO Act and other laws. The court has posted the matter for further hearing on June 18.
