Punished by teacher, Class 10 student in coma dies

Rinki Kaushik, a Class X student of a school in Kondli locality of New Delhi, who slipped into a coma a few months ago after being hit by a teacher, died in a hospital.

Rinki, a student of the Dinkar Model School, died at Maharaja Agrasen Hospital in Punjabi Bagh late Wednesday night after being in a state of coma for over two months, hospital sources said.

She died of respiratory disorder, sources said.

The student had been admitted to the hospital four months ago with serious head injuries. Her parents alleged that a school teacher had awarded her corporal punishment, as she was not keen on taking tuitions from him.

In December, Rinki slipped into a coma.

Subsequently, an inquiry was ordered into the incident by Delhi Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely, who also visited the hospital to enquire about the student's well being.

Based on the report of inquiry, headed by Deputy Director of Education (East) R N Sharma, a show cause notice was issued to the school on February 20. In his report, the DDE (East) said the school had created hindrance to the inquiry by not furnishing the required records.

The inquiry revealed that though the school was recognised up to Class VIII by the Education Directorate, it ran unauthorised classes in violation of rule 45(1) of the DSEAR-73, which prohibits opening of new classes without prior approval of competent authority.

In its plea, the school authorities said the school is recognised till class eight, which thereby meant that Rinki Kaushik, a tenth grader, cannot be regarded as student of the school.

The Education Department found the reply of the school unsatisfactory as documents like fee card and the progress report of Rinki Kaushik showed she was a student of Class X at Dinkar National Model School.

The enquiry also revealed that Rinki was physically abused by the teacher and Principal of the school due to which she was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of Agrasen Hospital for blood clotting in brain. Following the report, the government recognition for the school was withdrawn.