Class 9 student gives birth in school toilet; 28-year-old man arrested

Karnataka: A 17-year-old student at a government-run residential school in Shahapur taluk, Karnataka, gave birth to a baby inside the school toilet, sparking a police investigation.

The incident occurred earlier this week when the Class 9 student went into labour during school hours. Her classmates witnessed her struggling and immediately alerted the school authorities. The girl was quickly taken to a nearby hospital along with her newborn, and both are now reported to be in stable condition.

What is known about the student’s pregnancy?

The police First Information Report (FIR) states that the girl, who is 17 years and seven months old, was full-term pregnant. She had allegedly been sexually assaulted by an unidentified individual approximately nine months ago.

The student lived in the school hostel. Initially hesitant due to stress, the girl said she experienced severe abdominal pain while in the toilet and unexpectedly delivered the baby there.

What are the legal developments so far?

Following investigations, police arrested a 28-year-old man identified as the accused in the case. Authorities plan to counsel the girl after her recovery to understand the details of the incident, including whether she knew the suspect.

A case has been registered against the accused under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, along with relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, based on a complaint filed by the District Child Protection Officer.

Police have also filed cases against four other people: the hostel warden, school principal, staff nurse, and the victim’s brother for failing to report the girl’s pregnancy to the authorities. The police noted that the school officials and the girl’s brother did not immediately inform the authorities after the delivery. It was also mentioned that the student had been frequently absent from school since the start of the academic year.

What is the school’s response?

The hostel warden has maintained that she was unaware of the pregnancy, while the school principal stated that there were no visible signs and that the student’s marital status was unknown. In response to the incident, the Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society (KREIS) suspended four school employees, including the principal and hostel warden, for neglecting their duties and failing to monitor students’ welfare effectively.