HC asks to implement anti-bullying policy in edn institutions
Staff Reporter :
The High Court on Monday ordered the concerned authorities to send the policy formulated by the government to prevent bullying and ragging in the educational institutions to all the educational institutions of the country within three months.
At the same time, it also asked the all the educational institutions to implement what is to be done in the policy, including the formation of bullying-ragging prevention committee, within six months.
The High Court Bench of Justice J B M Hassan and Justice Razik-Al-Jalil delivered the verdict after hearing two rules issued earlier regarding the issue.
Lawyers Advocate Aynun Nahar Siddiqua, Aneek R Haque and Tanvir Ahmed appeared in the court hearing in support of the rules.
Later Tanvir Ahmed said, “Government finalized a policy regarding the issue and later issued a gazette notification.
It was also submitted to the court. After reviewing the policy the HC issues directions and observations.
The court said that the policy does not provide for disciplinary action.
Hence the principle of punitive measures can be added.”
The lawyer further said, “The High Court asked the government bodies concerned to send the policy to all the educational institutions within three months and the institutions have been asked to implement what is to be done in the policy, including the formation of bullying-ragging prevention committee, within six months.
It also asked every educational institution to train a specific teacher and give that teacher the responsibility of counseling, as per Section 5(10) of the policy.”
The High Court kept the case as a continuous mandamus, resulting in, if necessary in the future, the court can be approached for remedies related to bullying and ragging, added the lawyer.
The High Court on December 4 in 2018 issued a Suo Motu (on its own motion) order following the suicide of Aritry Adhikary, a ninth grader of the Viqarunnisa Noon School and College.
It was alleged that she and her parents were insulted by some teachers of the school.
The High Court then directed to form a five-member committee headed by an additional secretary of the education ministry to formulate a policy to prevent suicide of the students who are victim of bullying and ragging.
Complying with the order, the committee prepared a draft and submitted it in the court.
Following another incident of bullying a writ petition was filed in 2021.
After hearing the petition the HC issued a rule on August 22 in 2021.
Later the HC bench held hearing on the rules together.
In the meantime the government submitted the draft of the policy again on February 20 this year.
The HC then asked to bring correction in the policy.
Correcting it the government finalized it on May and issued a gazette notification on June 29.
