In a compassionate intervention reflecting the importance of patient-centred healthcare, PGIMER Director Professor Vivek Lal personally visited the six-year-old girl injured in the Panchkula school incident and took stock of her medical condition. His visit underlined the seriousness of the child’s injuries and the need to ensure that she receives comprehensive and uninterrupted medical attention.
During the visit, Professor Lal interacted with the team of treating doctors, reviewed the girl’s condition and discussed the course of treatment. He also stressed the importance of providing every necessary medical facility and support to the young patient. The Director’s personal involvement has brought added attention to the case, which has triggered concern beyond the hospital and placed the spotlight on the response of the Haryana administration.
The incident has also triggered a wider debate over child safety in government schools, the accountability of school authorities and the effectiveness of supervision arrangements. The Haryana administration has faced intense scrutiny following allegations of serious negligence, with questions being raised about how such a violent incident could take place inside a school premises.
The incident occurred on October 28 at Government Model Sanskriti Senior Secondary School in Sector 20, Panchkula. A six-year-old kindergarten student was allegedly assaulted by an eight-year-old boy inside an empty classroom. According to the police investigation and accounts reported by the family, the girl was hit with a brick and a flower pot, her head was banged against a desk and she was kicked repeatedly. She suffered serious facial injuries, including fractures, and was subsequently referred to PGIMER, Chandigarh, for specialised treatment.
The circumstances surrounding the incident have raised particularly troubling questions about the school’s security and monitoring systems. The girl’s family alleged that she remained injured inside a locked classroom for nearly two hours before being found. Police registered a case against the school principal, class in-charge and a chowkidar over alleged negligence, while the Haryana State Commission for Protection of Child Rights took suo motu cognisance and sought a detailed report from the education authorities.
The state government has constituted a five-member committee to investigate the circumstances and identify any lapses. The inquiry is expected to examine staff deployment, classroom supervision, CCTV monitoring and the response of school authorities after the incident. The government has also announced that it will bear the child’s treatment expenses and undertake a safety audit of schools across Haryana. In a further administrative response, the school principal and two teachers were suspended.
The girl has since been reported to be out of danger, although she continues to require specialist medical care. The case has become a stark reminder that the responsibility of educational institutions extends well beyond classroom teaching: ensuring the safety, dignity and protection of every child must remain their foremost obligation.
