The Delhi government on Monday ordered an inquiry into the death of a 10-year-old girl who died at a city hospital more than a month after she allegedly collapsed following punishment at her government school in east Delhi’s Vinod Nagar. The girl’s family alleged that she was reprimanded for forgetting to bring a book, made to stand at the back of her classroom with her hand raised and later locked inside the room. The child eventually collapsed and was taken to hospital, where she remained under treatment before dying on August 27. However, doctors at the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS) said the girl had been suffering from subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a rare progressive neurological disorder that is almost always fatal.
Family alleges girl was locked inside
According to the family, the incident took place on July 22 when the girl went to school from her home in Kalyanpuri. At around 9.30 am, her class teacher called the family and informed them that the child had soiled her clothes, asking them to bring a change of clothes. Minutes later, the teacher allegedly called again and asked the family to take her home.
The girl’s grandparents reached the school and allegedly found her unconscious in an open area. The family claimed that after regaining consciousness, the child told them she had forgotten to bring a book and was scolded by her teacher before being asked to stand at the back of the classroom with her hand raised.
Her aunt alleged that the girl became frightened and soiled her school uniform. The family further claimed that when the teacher and other students left the classroom, the girl was locked inside. She allegedly banged on the door and called for help before the teacher eventually returned and found her collapsed. The child reportedly collapsed again after narrating the episode to her grandparents. She was initially taken to Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital and subsequently referred to IHBAS. The family staged a protest outside the school on Monday, demanding action against those responsible and seeking answers over the circumstances in which the child had fallen unconscious.
Doctors cite serious neurological illness
IHBAS officials said the girl had been undergoing treatment for SSPE for around six months after an earlier consultation at AIIMS. The condition is a progressive inflammation of the brain caused by persistent infection with the measles virus and has an extremely high mortality rate.
Doctors said her health deteriorated over time and she died on August 27. The family also acknowledged that the child had previously been diagnosed with a neurological condition and was undergoing treatment, but maintained that the alleged incident at school had preceded the sharp deterioration in her condition. The family said it had not approached police immediately after the July incident because members hoped the girl would recover and be able to provide a clearer account of what had happened.
Teacher transferred, inquiry ordered
Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood described the death as a deeply distressing and serious matter and said an impartial inquiry had been initiated to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident. The teacher concerned has been transferred with immediate effect to ensure that the investigation is conducted fairly. Sood said strict action would follow if the inquiry established negligence, dereliction of duty or any other lapse on the part of school personnel. The government has also announced a pilot project to establish dedicated medical rooms in 100 government schools to provide first aid, basic healthcare support and counselling. The initiative will subsequently be considered for expansion to 1,086 schools after an assessment of the pilot project, for which Rs 5 crore has been allocated.