News
2 fathers jailed in Bengaluru for protesting against private school
Based on a police complaint filed by the St. Antony’s High School, Suresh Kumar and Kempe Gowda have been arrested in Bengaluru for harassing female staff members. The 2 fathers refute the charges saying they were merely protesting against discrimination faced by their children.
That the education sector in India’s IT hub Bengaluru is undergoing a mass commercialisation process is no secret. In fact, several incidents have been highlighted by the media where various parents' groups have staged protests against the steep hike in fees by private schools for the current academic session.
In fact, protests have been staged in front of many schools across India in the past few months, however, nowhere has any legal action been taken against parents. That’s why this case all the more unique as in this instance 2 parents-Suresh Kumar (50) and Kempe Gowda (38)-were arrested by the police after they staged a protest in front of a private school in the city on June 15. The duo was arrested following the police complaint lodged by the management of St. Antony's High School, Kurubarahalli stating that they had harassed women staff.
Flatly refuting the allegation, Nagasimha G Rao, convenor, RTE Task Force, said, "The school has levelled false charges against Kumar and Gowda. They staged the protest as children studying in the school under RTE Act quota are facing discrimination. These poor kids are yet to get their textbooks and uniforms."
Currently out on bail, Kumar and Gowda spent 2 days at the Central Parappana Agrahara Central Jail in the city. They have been booked under IPC (Indian Penal Code) Sections 341, 354 and 504. Kumar, who is an auto driver, said, "My daughter is a student in the school. She is studying in Class III. She has been admitted in the school under the RTE Act quota. Last year she did not get her books and uniforms. This year also she has no textbooks till now. Thus a group of 40-odd parents, whose kids were denied their basic rights, protested in front of the school gate on June 15.”
Denying the charges levelled against him and his friend Gowda, Kumar said that the protest was actually spearheaded by poor mothers. "Several poor mothers and few fathers staged a protest. We never misbehaved with the women staff members of the school. All these charges were false. Few police personnel reached the spot immediately after the school complained. After which we left the spot. In fact, later in the evening I was asked to come to the Rajarajeshwari Nagar Police Station. There I was arrested. Moreover, Gowda was not even part of the protest. He came to the police station after he learnt about my arrest. He was also arrested with me," added Kumar.
Gowda, whose child is studying in a different private school under the RTE Act quota, is also facing discrimination. The activists and parents point out the sections under the RTE Act which say that schools should distribute textbooks, uniforms, shoes etc free of cost. Even the Karnataka RTE Act, Rule 7.2, clearly mentions that schools shall not discriminate "quota" children in any manner with respect to entitlements and facilities such as textbooks, uniforms, library and ICT facilities, co-curricular programmes and sports.
Both Kumar and Gowda lamented that their arrest came as a shock to their families especially since they were just a part of a peaceful protest. "I am a poor man. I drive an auto rickshaw. I was earning Rs 300 a day earlier. My income has come done drastically now," said Kumar. Gowda too has a similar agony to narrate. "I work in a garage as a mechanic. I am yet to rejoin my work."The lawyers from Manthan Law are helping the duo to fight their case. In spite of repeated attempts, the school authorities of St. Anthony's School, Kurubarahalli refused to speak to this reporter.