Pradyuman murder could have been avoided: CBSE to SC

Pradhuman, a seven-year-old boy who was found dead by a school staff of Ryan International in the washroom with his throat slit in Gurugram's Bhondsi on 8 September, 2017 (Photo: IANS)


The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has told the Supreme Court that the death of Class 2 student, Pradyuman Thakur, could have been averted had the Gurugram school authorities discharged their duties and responsibilities, lawyer of victim’s father said on Thursday.

Barun Chandra Thakur’s counsel Sushil K Tekriwal said that the CBSE affidavit in the apex court points out that the school management failed to provide basic amenities on the campus.

“The Ryan management never provided portable drinking water to students. There was no reverse osmosis plant. Water drawn from a bore well was supplied on the campus,” Tekriwal said quoting the affidavit.

Tekriwal said many glaring irregularities and security lapses have been pointed out in the CBSE affidavit; like lack of attendants to accompany students to washrooms, absence of closed circuit televisions, no separate toilets for children and non-teaching staff.

On September 8, a seven-year-old Pradyuman was found dead with his throat-slit in a washroom, of the Ryan International School in Bhondsi area on Sohna Road in Gurugram district, moments after being dropped at the school by his father.

His father Barun Chandra Thakur has since moved the apex court on the matter.

Gurgaon police had arrested the one of the school bus conductor, Ashok Kumar, in connection with the murder case. The post-mortem report of seven-year-old Pradyuman has ruled out sexual assault.

On September 28, the Punjab and Haryana High Court granted them anticipatory bail despite opposition by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Putting a stay on their arrest, the court granted them relief till 7 October.

(With agency inputs)