Supreme Court Orders Urgent Implementation of Children's Safety Guidelines in Schools

The Supreme Court has mandated the enforcement of the Centre's safety guidelines for children in schools across states and union territories. The court directed the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights to oversee the implementation following alarming reports of sexual assaults in schools.

The Supreme Court directed the immediate enforcement of the Centre's safety guidelines for children in schools across all states and union territories on Tuesday. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) was tasked with coordinating and monitoring the implementation of these guidelines statewide.

A bench consisting of justices BV Nagarathna and N Kotiswar Singh emphasized the urgent need to execute the Centre's safety protocols. The bench ordered the union government to circulate copies of the guidelines to chief secretaries or equivalent officers across the nation.

This legal directive emerges amidst reports of sexual assaults in schools, such as the incident in Badlapur, Maharashtra. The NGO 'Bachpan Bachao Andolan' highlighted that only five states had adopted the guidelines. They argued that unimplemented guidelines leave children vulnerable to abuse and called for nationwide adoption.

The NGO underlined the guidelines' role in ensuring accountability from school management. The revealed details followed incidents where school managements failed to protect students, underscoring the need for enforced regulations.

The court directed states and union territories to notify these guidelines promptly, emphasizing that had they been previously enforced, many tragic events could have been avoided. The NGO's application revealed recent cases highlighting ongoing risks to children's safety due to these lapses in school management protocols.

(With inputs from agencies.)