Kamal Ghorui
Indore: In a startling turn of events inside a board examination centre, a class 10 student gave birth to a baby boy in the washroom while her mathematics paper was underway on Tuesday, sending shockwaves across the centre. The incident was reported in Dhar district, where the minor had gone to a private school designated as an examination centre. The minor later told the police that the child’s father is a youth from a nearby town with whom she had been in contact for the past two years, while her parents claimed that they were not aware of the minor’s medical condition.
Dhar ASP Parul Belapurkar said the student wrote her paper for nearly two hours before complaining of acute stomach pain and stepping out to use the washroom. Minutes later, the cries of a newborn alerted teachers, who rushed to the toilet and found that she had delivered a child. School authorities called the 108 ambulance service, and both the girl and the newborn were shifted to a nearby community health centre. Dhar CMHO Dr Anita Singhar said preliminary examination showed that the baby was born at 34 weeks of gestation. “The newborn weighs around 2kg and both mother and child were found stable. Considering the premature birth and low weight, doctors referred them to Dhar district hospital for specialised neonatal care. Pediatricians are monitoring the infant, while the minor remains under medical supervision,” she said. Police said the girl’s family claimed they were unaware of the pregnancy and were shocked by the development. Her mother told investigators that they had no information about her condition. The family also stated that the girl had been engaged and that they were planning her marriage after she turned 18. “A zero FIR has been registered under Sections of rape and relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Investigation is underway,” Belapurkar said.Legal experts, commenting on whether her parents could face legal action in such cases, said action is possible only if it is established that they were aware of the pregnancy and yet failed to act.“If the minor states that her parents had prior knowledge, it could invite proceedings. However, there have been cases where families remained unaware, particularly when the girl wore loose clothing and did not display visible signs. In the absence of proof of knowledge or negligence, fixing liability on parents could be difficult,” advocate Abhinav Dhanodkar said.Under Section 19(1), 21 of POCSO Act, non-reporting of sexual assault against a minor despite knowledge is a serious crime and more often than not, it is an attempt to shield the offender,” Dhanodkar added.
