Madurai schools directed to report all cognisable offences to police promptly
In the wake of two separate incidents of cognisable offences at schools in Viraganoor, the Madurai district administration has issued a directive to all heads of schools and colleges to promptly report such offences to the police. The instruction was given during a meeting chaired by Madurai Collector Nishant Krishna, which was attended by Commissioner of Police S. Rajenthiran and Superintendent of Police N. Devanathan.
The first incident involved a teenage boy repeatedly assaulting a junior student in a government school. The assault, which occurred in the presence of some teachers, was captured in a video that later surfaced on social media. The teachers reportedly attempted to pacify the boy but could not prevent the assault.
According to officials, the matter came to light only after the video clip was widely circulated. In the second incident, a complaint was brought to the notice of the Collector regarding a case of stalking of a girl student by a 36-year-old teacher at a private school, also in Viraganoor. The incident allegedly took place in 2025. Fellow students had reportedly informed the school principal about the matter, but the case was not reported to the police.
When government officials attempted to enquire into the incident, they did not get the desired response. Subsequently, the Oomachikulam police registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and arrested the teacher. The principal was also booked for failing to report the case to the police.
Superintendent of Police N. Devanathan said that heads of educational institutions have a duty to report any cognisable offence occurring on their premises. He emphasised that under the POCSO Act, it is mandatory for anyone with knowledge of an offence to report it to the police. Section 21 of the Act prescribes punishment, which may include imprisonment, a fine, or both, for failure to report such offences.
A senior police officer explained that prompt reporting of offences enables the police to take immediate action and helps prevent further escalation of incidents. The district administration has requested all school and college authorities to follow the reporting protocol diligently.
These incidents highlight the importance of timely reporting of crimes involving minors. The legal framework under the POCSO Act and other relevant provisions places a clear responsibility on educational institutions to ensure the safety of students and to cooperate with law enforcement. The authorities have also stressed that inaction by institution heads will attract legal consequences.
