Criminal case recommended against school for child’s death

NEW DELHI - A child rights panel Thursday said a ‘criminal case’ should be registered against elite Modern School Vasant Vihar in Delhi for its ‘negligence’ that caused the death of Class 12 student Akkriti Bhatia last week.

In its report to Delhi Police, the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) said: ‘The commission has tentatively come to a conclusion that a case of criminal negligence is made out against the school authorities under 304 (A) (causing death due to negligence).’

The commission had sent its two members to probe the death of Akkriti, who died after she suffered an asthma attack during school hours last week. Her parents hold school authorities responsible for her death, saying they had delayed shifting Akkriti to hospital.

The school, located in the elite Vasant Vihar neighbourhood of south Delhi and whose children belong to affluent and influential families, has denied the charge, saying she was given all possible clinical assistance before being sent to hospital.

Police are yet to register an FIR despite demands by the parents.