Shanno Khan’s family will file a petition in the High Court against teacher Manju Rathee, who the family has accused of causing the 11-year-old’s death.

The family is being represented by legal firm Kochhar & Co on a pro bono basis (no fees, in the interest of public good).

The family is likely to include the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the Delhi government as co-defendants in a suit to claim damages. “The writ petition will be filed by Thursday at the latest,” chairman of the firm, Rohit Kochhar, said on Tuesday.

The petition will seek a speedy investigation into the case and demand that charges against Rathee be framed under Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), instead of Section 304-A (causing death due to negligence). Section 304-A carries a comparatively lighter sentence.

The petition may also press for charges against Dhanpati, principal of the MCD school in Bawana, under Section 304-A. “The principal should be held liable; it (corporal punishment allegedly meted out to Shanno) could not have escaped her notice,” Kochhar said.

Earlier, the MCD had announced a compensation of Rs 50,000 for the family but the lawsuit is likely to demand more. Shanno’s father Ayub Khan met the law firm’s representatives on Monday to complete legal formalities. Meanwhile, the report of a vigilance inquiry ordered by the MCD is expected soon.

Shanno died on April 17 after Rathee allegedly punished her for not answering a question — the family claims she made the girl stand in the sun for over two hours with bricks on her shoulders. The teacher has denied the allegations.