Child slapping incident should shock the state’s conscience: Supreme Court

New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India expressed deep concern today over the Muzaffarnagar child slapping case and recommended the appointment of a senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer to oversee the investigation.

The court's decision underscores the gravity of the incident, with the justices stating that if the allegations are proven true, it should "shock the state's conscience."

The case, which has garnered widespread outrage, centres around an incident in which a child was made to be slapped by fellow students by a teacher in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh. This incident was caught on camera, and in the footage, the teacher can be heard instructing students to slap the Muslim boy hard.

During the hearing, the Supreme Court adjourned the matter until October 30, giving authorities additional time to conduct a thorough investigation. The court also directed the Uttar Pradesh government to file a compliance report detailing the steps taken in providing counseling to the students involved in the incident.

The Supreme Court also expressed reservations about the contents of the FIR, noting that it did not include the allegations made by the child's father, who stated that his son was subjected to violence due to his religion.

The court emphasized that providing quality education, including sensitive education, is imperative, and it criticized the UP government for failing to adhere to the provisions of the Right to Education Act.

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh government contended that the communal dimension of the case had been overstated.

Furthermore, the government was instructed to take responsibility for the education and welfare of the victim child.

The Muzaffarnagar child slapping case has sparked nationwide discussions about the need for a safer and more secure learning environment for students. It has also reignited debates on the role of educators and authorities in safeguarding the welfare of children in schools.