Coimbatore: Over 300 parents and alumni of a private matriculation school in Senguttaipalayam, near Pollachi, submitted a petition to the sub-collector on Saturday, appealing for the withdrawal of a case registered against school authorities under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The case was filed after a Class 8 Dalit girl student was allegedly made to sit on a stairway outside her classroom to write her annual examination, reportedly due to her being menstruating at the time. Following the incident, the school’s correspondent, principal, and office staff were booked under the stringent SC/ST Act on Thursday evening.
However, the petitioners claimed that the situation has been misrepresented. Addressing media persons at the sub-collector’s office, the parents stated that the student had been allowed to write the exam separately at the request of her own parents. They said it was unfortunate that the same act is now being construed as discriminatory.
The petition also praised the school’s long-standing contribution to the community, stating that it has been providing quality education to students from surrounding villages at a reasonable fee for over three decades. The signatories alleged that an individual affiliated with a certain organization had tried to portray the incident as a caste-based issue, threatening to invoke the SC/ST Act and demanding money.
The petitioners have requested a thorough police investigation into the matter and urged authorities to take appropriate action against those misusing the law. They further appealed for the withdrawal of the case filed under the SC/ST Act, which they believe was wrongly applied in this context.
The matter has sparked a larger debate on the misuse of laws meant to protect marginalized communities, and the role of educational institutions in handling sensitive issues involving minors. Authorities have yet to issue an official response.
