Court rebukes Badlapur Police for delay in minors' assault case, calls incident "extremely shocking"

The Bombay High Court on Thursday expressed grave concerns over the safety of schools. “Even four-year-old girls are not being spared. This situation is extremely shocking," remarked Justice Mohite-Dere during a hearing related to the alleged sexual assault of two minors at a school in Badlapur. The panel stressed that discussions about the right to education become meaningless, if educational institutions are not secure for children. The court criticized the Badlapur police for the delay in recording the victims' statements.

Advocate General Birendra Saraf, representing the state government, assured the court that all necessary measures are being taken to safeguard children, including the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to ensure a thorough and swift investigation.

The court has requested an affidavit from the state government outlining the actions taken by the Badlapur Police before the case was handed over to the SIT. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on August 27.