Chandigarh, October 31, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Haryana government on Saturday constituted a five-member inquiry committee to investigate the alleged assault of a six-year-old girl with special needs by a Class III student inside a school in Sector 20, Panchkula.
The government has also announced that it will bear the child’s entire treatment cost and conduct a comprehensive safety audit of schools across the state.
Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda said negligence affecting the safety and welfare of children would not be tolerated. Expressing concern over the girl’s recovery, he said the government stood firmly with her family.
The Panchkula district administration ordered an immediate inquiry. The five-member committee is headed by the Additional Deputy Commissioner and includes the District Education Officer, District Child Protection Officer, a police officer nominated by the Commissioner of Police, and a special educator or child psychologist.
The panel has been asked to submit a detailed report within seven days. It will examine CCTV footage to establish the sequence of events, verify whether teachers, assistants and special educators were present on duty, and fix accountability.
The inquiry will also examine possible lapses in safety and supervision, any delay in providing first aid or taking the child to hospital, and compliance with the Ministry of Education’s School Safety and Security Guidelines, 2021, and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
The child is currently undergoing treatment at PGI Chandigarh. A senior officer has been assigned to assist the family.
Police are conducting a separate investigation, with legal procedures being followed under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015. The identities of the children and the school are being kept confidential to protect the families from further distress.
On the minister’s directions, the Education Department will audit safety arrangements in schools across Haryana, including Panchkula. The review will focus on supervision of young children and students with special needs, the functioning of CCTV systems, and emergency response mechanisms.
The kindergarten student sustained serious injuries after the older student allegedly attacked her with bricks, stones and a flowerpot inside a classroom.
According to police, the assault continued even after the girl lost consciousness. She was also allegedly dragged across the school premises.
The injured child was initially taken to the Civil Hospital in Sector 6, Panchkula. Given the seriousness of her condition, doctors referred her to the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, for specialised treatment.
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