SEWA NYAYA UTTHAN FOUNDATION
Service. Justice. Inclusion
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has warned that it may invoke its coercive powers against the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police, Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, after they failed to submit a report on a complaint filed by Sewa Nyaya Utthan Foundation (SNU) regarding the assault of a Class 5 student by a schoolteacher.
The complaint was submitted before NHRC Member Shri Priyank Kanoongo on 22 April 2026 by Sewa Nyaya Utthan Foundation founder Swati Goel Sharma. It alleged that a Class 5 student at a government school in Materiya village under Tejwapur Block, Bahraich, was mercilessly beaten by a teacher named Tabassum alias Ayesha Khatun, leaving severe bruises and blue injury marks across his body.
According to media reports cited in the complaint, the child was beaten with an iron rod.
The complaint further alleged that as per reports, the teacher targets and harasses students who come to school wearing chandan or tilak on their foreheads. It also alleged that the incident, which had occurred about two months earlier, was suppressed through a forced compromise, with the family’s signatures taken under pressure.
The Commission recorded that the allegations prima facie disclosed violations of the human rights of the victim:
“The allegations made in the complaint prima facie seem to be violations of the human rights of the victim.”
Taking cognizance of the matter, the Bench presided by Hon’ble Member Shri Priyank Kanoongo on 27 April 2026 directed the registry to issue notice to the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police, Bahraich, to have the allegations inquired into and to submit an Action Taken Report within two weeks.
Considering the matter again, the Commission recorded that despite its earlier directions, the authorities had not submitted the requisite reports. It directed its registry to issue a reminder to the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police, Bahraich, and warned of coercive action if the report was not filed within two weeks.
The Commission has sought the complete report by 2 August 2026.
