Jaunpur: The Allahabad High Court has quashed a case registered under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against a school principal in Jaunpur district, observing that an offence under the law cannot be established merely because the complainant belongs to a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe community.
The court emphasised that it is necessary to establish that the alleged offence was committed on the ground of the victim’s caste identity. It also noted contradictions in witness statements and a lack of sufficient and reliable evidence to substantiate the allegations against the principal, Ramakant Yadav.
The case relates to the death of a student, Ayush, who allegedly became unconscious at a school in the Mirganj police station area on September 9, 2023.
According to the complaint, Ayush had gone to school on his bicycle. At around 4 pm, his father, Hiralal Saroj, was informed that his son had fallen down the stairs and become unconscious. Upon reaching the school, he found the child lying unconscious on a cot. Ayush was subsequently taken to a doctor, who declared him dead.
In his complaint to the police, the father expressed suspicion that the student had been made to stand in the sun for an extended period. He subsequently initiated proceedings under the SC/ST Act against the principal and the school management.
Challenging the case, Yadav approached the High Court seeking relief.
During the proceedings, the court noted inconsistencies in the statements of witnesses. The inquest report recorded the student’s death as resulting from a fall, while the material presented before the court was found insufficient to establish the allegations against the principal.
The High Court also referred to Supreme Court judgments concerning the SC/ST Act before quashing the case against Yadav.
The ruling underscores the requirement that the essential legal ingredients of an alleged offence under the Act must be established before criminal proceedings can be sustained.
