L-G Taranjit Singh Sandhu Orders School-Wide POCSO Safety Compliance Audit
L-G orders POCSO audit across schools for safety compliance
Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu has ordered a comprehensive audit of schools to evaluate compliance with the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, directing strict enforcement measures and a zero-tolerance approach toward lapses in child safety protocols across educational institutions. The directive was issued during a high-level review meeting on the implementation of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, which was attended by senior officials including the Commissioner of Police, the Secretary (Women and Child Development), and the Director of Education.
The meeting focused on strengthening institutional safeguards for children and ensuring consistent adherence to statutory obligations in schools. As part of the audit exercise, the Education Department has been instructed to conduct a detailed inspection of schools to assess whether mandated child protection mechanisms are in place and functioning effectively. The Lieutenant Governor also directed authorities to take strict punitive action against institutions found violating or failing to implement required safety measures.
Officials have been asked to submit a comprehensive report outlining both completed and proposed actions against defaulters. The review is expected to include an evaluation of compliance frameworks, reporting mechanisms, and on-ground implementation of child safety norms within educational environments. To strengthen preventive safeguards, Sandhu emphasised the need for every school to establish a dedicated Child Protection Committee. These committees, he said, must meet regularly to monitor the school environment, identify vulnerabilities, and ensure timely intervention in cases of concern related to child safety or misconduct.
Also Read: Football Coach Arrested for Raping Minor for 3 Years Using Career Promises and Blackmail
In addition to the audit, the Lieutenant Governor has directed that July be observed as Child Protection Month, during which a city-wide awareness campaign will be conducted. The initiative will focus on sensitisation, mandatory training sessions, and capacity-building programmes for teachers, school staff, and other stakeholders involved in child welfare and education. The administration has also been asked to submit a detailed report on the execution and outcomes of the campaign after its completion.
The move is aimed at institutionalising long-term awareness and accountability mechanisms rather than limiting efforts to short-term compliance checks. Sandhu further expressed optimism that the upcoming operationalisation of all-women police stations, designed to handle cases involving women and children, will strengthen enforcement of the POCSO framework and improve responsiveness to complaints. Officials said the combined measures are intended to reinforce a zero-tolerance policy toward any lapses in child protection standards across schools.
Also Read: Cyberabad Police Strengthen Case Against Union Minister’s Son Under POCSO Act
