Boy’s eye lost in school fight,mother in HC for guidelines

Sohail’s mother Sherbano Khan,in her public interest litigation,has challenged the role of the civic authorities and has also sought compensation for her child. “Sohail was made to sit with his injured eye for over two hours. After school,he was asked to go home,” she says.

Sohail was operated at the civic body-run KEM Hospital at Parel,but doctors could not save his eyesight. Sherbano approached the school authorities and the Sion police seeking action against the teacher.

“Till date nothing has been done. The school told Sherbano on February 22 that an inquiry has been initiated. But no action has been taken,” said the petitioner’s lawyer,Bhavesh Parmar.

“The child’s eyesight could have been retained had the teacher immediately rushed him to hospital. Also,we in the petition are pointing out a crucial aspect,on whether the school in whose custody a child is handed over is responsible for the child’s safety too,” added Parmar.

Citing a Supreme Court judgment,the petition focuses on the aspect of the “golden hour” rule in case of accidents.

“According to the apex court’s judgment,a person should be attended to and taken to the hospital within two hours. There should be guidelines which make it mandatory that a child should be attended within two hours in case of such accidents,” added Parmar.