Badlapur Sexual Assault Case: NHRC Demands Report, School-Level Vishakha Committees to be Established | Key Updates

Two four-year-old girls in Badlapur, Maharashtra, were allegedly sexually assaulted by a school cleaner, sparking widespread outrage and protests. Authorities are promising rapid justice with a comprehensive investigation and various actions being taken:

1. Special Public Prosecutor Appointed: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that senior lawyer Ujjwal Nikam will act as the special public prosecutor for the Badlapur sexual assault case. The trial will be expedited in a Fast Track court.
2. High-Level Probe Ordered: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has ordered a high-level investigation and the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to handle the case. Shinde emphasized that the case would be fast-tracked and that those found guilty would face strict consequences.
3. Police Officers Suspended: In response to the incident, the government has suspended three police officers, including a senior police officer, an assistant sub-inspector, and a head constable. Fadnavis announced the suspensions via X (formerly Twitter).

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1. Train Services Disrupted: Protests erupted at railway stations, leading to disruptions in local and long-distance train services, including the Mumbai-Surat Vande Bharat and Pune Duronto, as well as local trains on the Ambarnath and Karjat routes.
2. CCTV Investigation: State Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar stated that an investigation is underway to determine why the CCTV cameras at the school were not operational. Four IAS officers from Pune and Mumbai have been assigned to work on this aspect of the case.
3. School-Level Vishakha Committees: Vishakha committees, designed to provide a platform for students to voice grievances, will be established at the school level, according to Kesarkar.
4. NHRC Seeks Report: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo moto cognizance of the case and requested a detailed report on the incident.
5. Political Reactions: UBT Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi condemned the assault and highlighted the statewide outrage. She has called for the President to approve the Maharashtra Shakti Criminal Law through a post on X.
6. Details of the Assault: The assaults allegedly occurred on August 12-13, when the two girls were assaulted by Akshay Shinde, a 23-year-old cleaner hired by the school on August 1, 2024. The incidents took place in the girls’ toilet.
7. Protests and Public Outcry: The case has led to massive public demonstrations, highlighting the demand for justice and better protection for children in schools.