Sexual Assault Survivor Allegedly Denied Admission In Govt School: Kerala High Court Seeks State's Response

Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V. directed the Government Pleader to get instructions and submit as to why the victim child cannot be accommodated in the respondent School.

The petitioner is the mother of a child, aged 17 years. The child was pursuing her first-year VHSC (FHW) Course in Victory VHSS Olathanni Aided School. Due to abject poverty, she was staying at Christian Mission Children's Home.

Advocate R. Gopan appeared for the petitioner and argued that due to an unfortunate turn of events, she became the victim of sexual abuse.

Accordingly, a crime was registered at the Kunnikode Police Station alleging offences inter alia under Section 3 of the POCSO Act and under Section 376 of the IPC.

It was contended that the school in which the child was pursuing her studies was located near the house of the accused. It is also contended that the child is still being taunted by certain persons.

In order to pursue her studies, she applied for transfer admission to the Government Vocational Higher Secondary School.

The counsel asserted that though there are enough vacancies in the said School, for one reason or the other, admission is refused. Several representations were filed before the respondents and the same is pending.

The Court will take up the matter again on 30th November.