Sixteen kindergarten students of an all girls school in Delhi's Hauz Qazi area were allegedly kept locked in the basement of their school for hours for non payment of fees.
Reports suggest that students were locked in the basement of the school between 7:30 am and 12:30 pm in the heat without any food or water in the extreme heat.
NDTV quoted one of the parents as saying, "Children were locked in the basement for not paying the fees. I had cleared the fees, despite that my child was punished. The children were thirsty and were suffering in the heat. Police helped us. Even after I showed the proof of fees clearance, the Principal was not apologetic or remorseful."
The principal of the school has allegedly denied the allegations.
Hindustan Times quoted the principal telling the media, "The basement is not a punishment place; it is an activity room where children play and learn music. It is a kind of classroom."
The police have said that a case has been registered against the school.
The Hindustan Times report says that a case was registered under Section 342 (wrongful confinement) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 75 (cruelty to child) of the Juvenile Justice Act.
Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights member Anurag Kundu said that they will look into the matter.
A teacher said that there was confusion about the fees since some students had not submitted "teacher copies".
The Hindu quoted a teacher as saying, ""There was confusion over fee submission as the school was not informed by the school administration. It will be clarified with the accounts section. Some parents have not submitted a 'teacher copy' to the school and it created the confusion."