Govt To Consider Verifying Criminal Antecedents Of School Teachers Before Appointment: State Tells Madras High Court

The submission was made before a bench of Justice D Krishnakumar and Justice PB Balaji which was hearing a public interest litigation seeking a CBI inquiry into the alleged sexual assault and harassment of school students at a Fake NCC camp in Krishnagiri District of Tamil Nadu.

Advocate General PS Raman appearing for the state informed the court that a procedure, similar to the one adopted in other departments like Police, Judiciary, etc, would be adopted by verifying the declaration of the candidates regarding their involvement in criminal cases. He further informed the court that the State would take necessary decisions and pass appropriate orders in this regard which would be placed before the court. The court in its order said:

“He (Raman) also assured before this court that appointment of Secondary Grade Teachers, P.G. Assistants or any other posts in the Government Schools and Government Aided Institutions shall be made only after taking into consideration their antecedents and will follow the process adopted in the other departments like Police Personnel, Judicial officers, Law officers and lawyers, by verifying the declaration of the candidates regarding their involvement in criminal cases. He further submitted that, in this regard, necessary decision will be taken by the government and appropriate orders will be passed and the same will be placed before this court on the next hearing".

The proposal was made after the court had suggested bringing in a system of background verification for teachers. The petitioner had informed the court that instances of teachers abusing children was also on the rise and requested the court to look into the same and give suitable directions.

The AG also informed the court that the Government has taken steps to ensure the safety and welfare of the school students by setting up Advisory Committee, keeping complaint boxes in schools, and printing helpline numbers on the textbooks. He added that the Directors and Joint Directors of the School Education Department were to be appointed as District Monitoring Officers, who would oversee the implementation of the safety measures.

The court was also appraised of the report filed by the Chairman of the District Legal Services Authority after her inspection and interaction with the teachers, parents and victim students in the three schools connected with the case. On going through the reports, the court noted that further interaction was necessary and deemed it fit to appoint Sumathi Sai Priya, former Principal District Judge of Krishnagiri who was now posted as Assistant Registrar, IT cum Statistics along with PT Jenefer, Additional Subordinate Judge, Krishnagiri to further interact with the teachers, parents and the students.

The court directed the two women judges to visit the schools and file a report regarding the allegations raised against the prime accused Sivaraman and collect more information from the Students, who had participated in the "fake NCC camp" organised by Sivaraman. The court also directed a copy of the order to be furnished to the Principal District Judge, Krishnagiri so that he officers could be deputed to accompany the judges during their inspection.

The matter is next listed on November 20.

Case Title: AP Suryaprakasam v State

Case No: WP 25034 of 2024