LHC Chief Justice Issues Strict Order for Male Staff in Girls’ Schools and Colleges
Chief Justice Aalia Neelum of the Lahore High Court (LHC) issued a strong direction, saying that “no male staff will be tolerated where females are present,” in response to a spate of harassment cases at girls’ educational institutions.
Chief Justice Neelum expressed displeasure with the Punjab Police’s handling of these cases and blasted them for failing to stop a viral video linked to one of the instances from going viral.
The Chief Justice declared at the hearing that “anything can be done if there is a will,” denouncing the police’s incompetence. Dr. Usman Anwar, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) for Punjab, acknowledged that a suicide case that occurred recently at Punjab University was not handled appropriately and that the necessary report under Section 174 of the CrPC had not been submitted.
A report from Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) was also rejected by the court as insufficient, citing the fact that it was only written after notice was given. Investigating social media accounts connected to incidents at Punjab Group of Colleges, LCWU, and the Punjab University case is a directive from the Chief Justice to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
In order to maintain transparency, Chief Justice Neelum emphasised that student statements should be recorded in front of their parents and university representatives. After receiving several petitions demanding a high-level investigation into harassment in schools, she formed a wider bench to look into the issue and look into the distribution of a fictitious film purporting to show Provincial Information Minister Azma Bukhari.
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