National Human Rights Commission: On the recommendations of the National Human Rights Commission, 15 students of the State run Eklavya Model Residential School, Khumulwng, Tripura have been paid monetary relief of Rs. 2 lakh each totaling Rs. 30 lakh, besides the free coaching for the 2018 National Eligibility and Entrance Test, NEET, which they could not write in 2017 due to the negligence of the school authorities.
The Commission observed that it was not sufficient that the Government of Tripura had initiated punitive action against the negligent Principal and the teacher of the school and that the students will be provided free coaching for 2018 also. It recommended that the State government needed to pay monetary relief also to the victim students for the loss of one academic year in addition to the free coaching. Subsequent to this, the government of Tripura, paid the monetary relief and sent a compliance report, which was taken on record by the Commission today on the 16th February, 2018 with the directions to the State government to inform about the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings initiated against the guilty Principal and the teacher.
Earlier, during the course of enquiry, the Commission found that the Principal and a teacher of the school had filled the online application form of the students belonging to the tribal communities but failed to remit the requisite fee within the stipulated time hence, the students could not appear in the NEET. When the issue came to the knowledge of the Tribal Welfare Department, it approached the CBSE but it was too late for them to accept their request. Action against the negligent Principal and the Teacher had been taken and disciplinary proceedings were initiated against them.
The Commission observed that the State Government had accepted the negligence of the school authorities. The rights to education and equal opportunity of the 15 students had been grossly violated, as they have lost an entire precious year of their academic career. Therefore, the Commission recommended to the Government of Tripura to pay Rs. 2 lakh each to all the 15 students along with proof of payments. The Commission had taken cognizance of the issue on the basis of a complaint received on the 5th May, 2017.
National Human Rights Commission
