Karnataka School in Turmoil as Class 9 Student Gives Birth, Sparking Investigation

An incident at a government residential school in the Shahapur taluk of Yadgir district, Karnataka, has led to a police investigation. A Class 9 student gave birth in the school toilet on August 27. The student, who was the victim of sexual assault about nine months prior, was full-term pregnant. Classmates informed the school administration when they realized the girl was in labor. The student initially hesitated to share information but eventually confirmed the birth. Both the student and her newborn were subsequently admitted to the hospital and are currently in a stable condition. The police have filed a POCSO case against a 28-year-old man based on a complaint filed by the District Child Protection Officer. Furthermore, cases have been registered against the hostel warden, school principal, the staff nurse, and the victim’s brother for failing to report the pregnancy to the authorities. The Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Association (KREIS) has suspended four school employees in response to the incident. Authorities are actively investigating the matter and have stated that they will take necessary action after receiving the medical report and determining the responsible parties. The authorities have expressed their commitment to preventing similar incidents in the future and will investigate instances of concealed pregnancies and possible child marriages. A Child Rights Commission member has criticized the officials’ negligence and highlighted the need for improved monitoring of students’ well-being and regular medical check-ups in residential schools.