Thanjavur Student Suicide Case : Supreme Court To Hear TN DGP's Appeal Against CBI Probe In October 2022

The girl, a Class 12 student of Sacred Heart Higher Secondary School, Michealpatti, had died on January 19 following an attempt to suicide. After her death, certain video clips of her recorded by a third party named Muthuvel emerged in social media, in which the girl had allegedly made statements about forcible conversion attempts.

The High Court had criticized the Superintendent of Police Tanjavur for making a press statement to rule out the conversion angle at an early stage.

The Court had also noted that the State Education Minister and two other High Ranking Ministers issued public statements exonerating the school management. The Education Department also released a report absolving the school. In this backdrop, the Court observed:

"It is too early in the day for the police or the politicians to jump to conclusions. But they have done so. That is why, the petitioner is apprehensive that if the investigation remains with State police, he will not get justice. His apprehension is justified" the court said

The High Court had further observed "What led the child to suicide has to be investigated. Before the investigation officer, the dying declaration of the child is available. Their authenticity is undoubted. Without doing so, District Superintendent of Police wanted to completely suppress the conversion angle. The foregoing circumstances cumulatively taken will definitely create an impression that the investigation is not proceeding on the right lines. Since a high ranking Hon'ble Minister himself has taken a stand, investigation cannot continue with the State Police".

The Court had observed that there was a "counter-narrative" being built that the girl was ill-treated at her home by her father and step-mother. Further, the I.T wing of the ruling party released portions of the private video that appear to exonerate the school authorities, which again raises considerable doubts about the credibility and impartiality of the investigation made by the State police, the Court said.

The deceased, a 12th Standard student in Thooya Irudhaya Higher Secondary School at Thirukattupalli, was staying at the School Hostel itself. Allegedly, she consumed poison (pesticide) inside the hostel premises on 9th January. The police took her statement on 16th January, based on which, the hostel warden was booked for offences under Sections 305, 511 of IPC and Sections 75 and 82(1) of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. The petitioner also submitted that the school management tortured her for not converting to Christianity.

The Prosecution had argued that the case was being politicized and communalized by certain vested interests and maintained that the investigation was going in the right track. The Court was told that Muthuvel, who took the video, was not cooperating with the investigation.

The Immaculate Heart of Mary Society constituted by "The Roman Catholic Congregation of the Order of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pondicherry", the school management which intervened in the case, dismissed the conversion allegations. The management submitted that majority of its students are Hindus and there have been no complaints of conversion against the school. The management alleged that the "bogey of conversion" was thrown to shield the real culprits and alluded that the girl was facing problems at her house.