Haryana Suspends Panchkula School Principal After 6-Year-Old Girl Assaulted in Classroom; Two Teachers Also Suspended

November 1, 2026

Panchkula: The Haryana government has suspended the principal of a government school in Panchkula following an alleged assault on a six-year-old girl by an eight-year-old student inside a classroom. The action comes amid an ongoing investigation into alleged negligence by the school administration and concerns over student safety.

According to an official order dated November 1, Neelu, principal of Shaheed Major Anuj Rajput Government Model Sanskriti Senior Secondary School in Sector 20, Panchkula, has been suspended with immediate effect under Rule 5 of the Haryana Civil Services (Punishment and Appeal) Rules, 2016.

During the suspension period, her headquarters will remain at the office of the District Education Officer in Ambala. She will not be permitted to leave the headquarters without prior approval from the competent authority and will be entitled to a subsistence allowance under the applicable service rules.

The suspension follows an incident on October 28, when the six-year-old kindergarten student was allegedly attacked by an eight-year-old Class 3 student inside the school premises.

Girl Hospitalised at PGIMER; Accused Boy Sent to Observation Home

The incident came to light after the girl did not return from school at the scheduled time. Her family contacted the school and searched for her after being informed that she had not come out of the premises.

The girl was subsequently found seriously injured inside a room on the school premises and was taken to hospital. She was later shifted to the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh for treatment.

CCTV footage of the incident reportedly showed the eight-year-old boy repeatedly attacking the younger student. The footage raised questions about the supervision arrangements and the response of school authorities.

As of November 1, the girl was reported to be stable and out of danger, although she continued to receive treatment at PGIMER.

The eight-year-old boy was produced before the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB), Panchkula, which directed that he be placed at an Observation Home in Ambala pending further inquiry. He is also undergoing a psychological evaluation in accordance with juvenile justice procedures.

Two Teachers Suspended, FIR Registered Against School Staff

The action against the principal follows the suspension of two junior basic training (JBT) teachers, identified as Simranjeet Kaur and Pooja Rani, by the District Elementary Education Officer, Panchkula.

Police have also registered an FIR over alleged negligence against the school principal, the class in-charge and a school chowkidar. The investigation is examining the circumstances under which the incident occurred and whether adequate supervision and safety arrangements were in place.

The Haryana government has constituted a five-member inquiry committee headed by the Panchkula Additional Deputy Commissioner. The panel includes the District Education Officer, District Child Protection Officer, a police representative and a special educator or child psychologist. It has been asked to submit its findings within seven days.

Haryana Orders School Safety Audit

Following the incident, the state government has also announced a comprehensive safety audit of schools across Haryana. The government has said it will bear the entire cost of the girl’s medical treatment.

Haryana Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda has assured that strict action will be taken against anyone found responsible for negligence.

The Haryana State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has taken suo motu cognisance of the matter and sought a detailed report from the District Education Officer. It has asked for CCTV footage, staff duty rosters, attendance records and details of the supervision arrangements at the school.

Panchkula Police have also indicated that a detailed standard operating procedure (SOP) will be issued for schools in the district, along with awareness programmes for teachers and students.

The investigation is continuing, with authorities examining the alleged lapses in school supervision and measures needed to strengthen child safety in educational institutions.