Police have arrested a 35-year-old playschool attendant in Delhi's Maujpur for allegedly abusing a three-year-old boy, while the school's director, principal and a teacher have also been named in the case.

A 35-year-old attendant at a playschool in Delhi's Maujpur has been arrested for allegedly abusing a three-year-old boy, police said on Sunday.

The case was registered on Friday following a complaint filed by the child's father. Four people, including the school's director, principal, a 30-year-old teacher and the attendant, have been named as accused in the case.

Police said the attendant has been taken into custody, while the teacher has been asked to join the investigation. The roles of the school's director and principal are also being examined.

Family Notices Injuries and Behavioural Changes

The child's family reportedly became concerned after noticing physical injuries and sudden changes in his behaviour.

According to the family, the three-year-old became frightened of using the washroom and frequently cried at night. They also noticed bruises on his face and arms.

The child's father, lawyer Navneet Choudhary, said his son fell ill after returning home from school on August 18.

According to Choudhary, the child began vomiting and complained of dizziness. A paediatrician reportedly advised the family to consult an ENT specialist after noticing swelling around the child's eyes.

The ENT specialist allegedly found severe swelling in both ear canals and reportedly suspected that the child may have suffered repeated physical assault.

CCTV Footage Allegedly Shows Abuse

Following the medical examination, the family demanded access to the school's CCTV footage.

According to the child's father, school staff initially claimed there were technical problems with the CCTV system. However, the family was allegedly asked to pay Rs 1,500 to view the footage the following day.

After paying the amount, the family was shown CCTV recordings that allegedly depicted the child being subjected to physical abuse inside the playschool.

According to the father's allegations, the footage showed the toddler being pulled by his ears, tied to a chair for an extended period, kicked and repeatedly struck.

The father alleged that the child was tied near the apron area and repeatedly assaulted, including being kicked and violently pulled by his ears.

Case Registered Under POCSO, JJ Act and BNS

Police have registered a case under relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the Juvenile Justice Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The investigation is ongoing, and police are examining the alleged involvement and responsibilities of other school officials named in the complaint.

The incident has raised serious concerns over child safety and supervision at early childhood education centres, with the investigation expected to determine the circumstances surrounding the alleged abuse.

President Droupadi Murmu will confer the National Awards to Teachers (NAT) 2026 on 21 teachers and faculty members from higher education institutions (HEIs) and polytechnics at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on September 5.

The awardees have been selected from central higher education institutions, state universities and polytechnics for their contributions to teaching, research, innovation and outreach.

21 faculty members selected

According to official information, the awardees include:

• 12 faculty members from central higher education institutions
• 5 faculty members from state universities — three government and two private
• 4 faculty members from polytechnics — two government and two private

The awards recognise exemplary teachers and faculty members whose work has contributed to improving the quality of education.

How were the awardees selected?

Nominations for NAT 2026 were invited online through the Rashtriya Puraskar Portal between May 26 and July 20, 2026.

The process allowed self, institutional and peer nominations under the 'Jan Bhagidari' approach.

Candidates were evaluated on parameters including:

• Teaching-learning effectiveness
• Research and innovation
• Outreach activities
• Sponsored research
• Faculty development programmes
• Consultancy and teaching contributions

The selection was conducted in two stages. A Preliminary Search-cum-Screening Committee first shortlisted the nominees, following which a Committee of Jury selected the final awardees.

Awards aligned with NEP 2020

The National Awards to Teachers for HEIs and polytechnics were introduced in 2023, with two award categories created under the broader National Awards to Teachers framework.

The initiative is aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasises creating a culture of excellence in education through incentives, rewards and recognition.

The September 5 ceremony will therefore recognise teachers not only for classroom teaching but also for their contributions to research, innovation, institutional development and the wider education ecosystem.

Professor Rajiv Chaudhary of Pt Ravishankar Shukla University (PTRSU) has been selected for the National Teachers’ Award 2026 for his contribution to education in the field of Physical Education and Yoga.

Reacting to the recognition, Chaudhary said he was deeply honoured and had never imagined receiving the national award.

“The happiness is such that it cannot be expressed in words. I am deeply gratified that the selection committee has recognised my work with this award,” he told ANI.

He also thanked the Chief Minister, Education Minister and the university's Vice-Chancellor for supporting his work and providing opportunities to contribute in different areas.

President Murmu to confer awards on September 5

President Droupadi Murmu will confer the National Teachers’ Awards on September 5, 2026, at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on the occasion of Teachers’ Day.

A total of 48 teachers have been selected for this year's awards. Short documentaries highlighting the work and achievements of the awardees will also be showcased during the ceremony.

Three-stage selection process

The National Teachers’ Awards are organised annually by the Department of School Education and Literacy under the Ministry of Education to recognise teachers who have made significant contributions to improving the quality of education and enriching students' lives.

For the 2026 awards, eligible teachers were invited to submit online self-nominations between June 15 and July 20.

The final selection was conducted through a three-stage process at the district, state and national levels.

The 48 awardees include teachers from 27 states, seven Union Territories and six Central Government organisations. The group comprises 26 men and 22 women.

The award ceremony will be broadcast on Doordarshan and SWAYAM PRABHA channels and streamed through the Ministry of Education's official digital platforms.

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder and convenor Abhijeet Dipke has written an open letter to education ministers across states, seeking answers on the condition of government schools, teacher vacancies, funding and digital infrastructure.

The letter comes amid CJP's ongoing 'School Thik Karo' campaign, under which its leaders and volunteers are visiting government schools to assess their facilities.

Six questions on government schools

Dipke questioned whether government schools across India have adequate basic facilities such as safe drinking water, functional toilets, classrooms and benches.

He asked state education ministers to provide data on:

• The number of government schools renovated in the past five years and those currently requiring repairs or complete renovation.
• The number of sanctioned teaching posts, filled positions and existing vacancies.
• Funds allocated to government schools over the past five years and the amount actually spent.
• The additional number of government schools required to provide children reasonable access to quality education.
• Non-teaching duties assigned to government school teachers.
• The number of schools with adequate computers, digital learning facilities, functional toilets and sports infrastructure.

Dipke said access to basic educational facilities should not depend on a child's location or financial background.

“We hope your ministry will make this information public and take urgent steps to ensure that no child is denied a dignified education because of inadequate infrastructure,” the letter said.

'School Thik Karo' campaign

The questions were raised as part of CJP's 'School Thik Karo' campaign, launched on August 15. Dipke began the campaign by visiting a government school in Santuk Pimpri village in Maharashtra's Hingoli district.

The organisation said its volunteers would continue visiting schools despite facing challenges, including being denied entry at some institutions.

CJP announces September 5 march

CJP has also announced a peaceful march from India Gate to Delhi Police headquarters on September 5.

According to the organisation, the march will involve families of deceased NEET candidates and people who were allegedly subjected to police action during the July 20 'Sansad Chalao' protest.

CJP has alleged that the government has not fulfilled commitments it made on July 25, including assurances concerning FIRs against students and protesters and compensation for families of deceased NEET candidates.

The organisation said the September 5 march would seek accountability for those commitments while continuing to raise issues concerning students and public education.

West Bengal is moving towards the full implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and is preparing to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to support the process.

State School Education Minister Dipak Barman announced the plan on Monday while addressing a state-level workshop attended by district inspectors of schools and education department officials at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre in New Town.

Barman acknowledged that West Bengal was “somewhat behind” in implementing NEP 2020 but said the state was working to complete the process as quickly as possible.

NCERT to Support Teachers and Schools

Under the proposed MoU, NCERT will provide teacher orientation programmes, technical guidance and academic support to help West Bengal implement the new education framework.

The minister said NCERT's assistance would be aimed at addressing challenges ranging from technical issues to implementing the policy at the school level.

The collaboration is expected to provide teachers and education officials with greater support as the state transitions towards the NEP framework.

New Textbooks to Be Introduced in 2028

Barman said the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) will serve as the basis for developing the state's curriculum and textbooks.

The framework will guide decisions on what students learn, how subjects are taught and how learning outcomes are assessed.

The state's syllabus committee will also take guidance from the NCF while preparing the curriculum.

According to Barman, textbooks developed under the new framework are expected to be introduced from the 2028 academic year. NCERT will provide support during the development process.

Private Schools Asked to Update UDISE+ Data

The minister also raised concerns over incomplete student data on the UDISE+ portal, particularly among private schools.

UDISE+ is the central government's school education database, through which institutions provide information on students, teachers and school infrastructure.

Barman said a large number of private schools had not uploaded student-related information. As a result, the database was showing some schools as having teachers but no students, despite those institutions operating normally.

He said the discrepancy was largely due to technical or other reasons and did not reflect the actual situation on the ground.

The state government has urged private schools to upload their complete information so that the UDISE+ database provides a more accurate picture of school enrolment and infrastructure in West Bengal.

State to Follow Its Own College Policies

Asked about the composition of college governing bodies and whether MLAs, MPs or ministers could have a role, Barman said West Bengal would follow its existing policies and procedures.

He said the state had its own system, policies and traditions and would not interfere in matters outside its framework.

The proposed NCERT partnership marks a significant step in West Bengal's effort to accelerate NEP 2020 implementation, with teacher training, curriculum reform and updated learning resources expected to form key parts of the transition.

The Supreme Court on Monday declined to pass an immediate order stopping the Cockroach Janata Party’s (CJP) proposed September 5 march in Delhi, saying it could not presume that anything untoward would happen. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said maintaining law and order was the responsibility of the government and police, while expecting all stakeholders to act peacefully and within the legal framework.

What did the Supreme Court say about the CJP September 5 march?

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana heard a plea seeking restrictions on the proposed CJP demonstration. The court declined to grant the immediate relief sought and said it would proceed on the assumption that all stakeholders would act responsibly and peacefully.

The bench also made it clear that the responsibility for maintaining law and order rests with the competent authorities. The court did not, however, grant the organisers any separate permission to conduct the march. The distinction is important as the proposed demonstration remains subject to the applicable rules and directions of the authorities.

The Supreme Court also issued notice to the Centre and Delhi Police and directed the petitioner to place the concerns before the authorities. The matter has been listed for further hearing on September 10.

When and where will the CJP march take place?

The Cockroach Janata Party has announced a September 5 march from India Gate to the New Delhi Police Headquarters. The organisation has described the proposed demonstration as peaceful and said it would bring together students, young people and others supporting its demands.

The proposed mobilisation follows an earlier CJP-led agitation connected with demands raised over the NEET controversy and alleged police action against protesters. The organisation had called off its earlier protest on July 25 after discussions with the government, but later alleged that some commitments made at the time had not been fulfilled.

Why is the CJP planning a September 5 protest?

According to reports, the CJP says several issues raised during its earlier agitation remain unresolved. These include demands concerning FIRs registered against protesters and other assurances that the organisation says were given during discussions with the Centre.

The group has also raised demands relating to families of students who died by suicide following the NEET controversy and alleged police excesses during previous demonstrations. These are claims and demands made by the organisation, rather than findings established by the Supreme Court in Monday's proceedings.

Has Delhi Police given permission for the CJP march?

The Supreme Court's decision should not be interpreted as permission from the court to hold the march. Delhi Police had earlier said that no formal permission had been sought for the proposed September 5 demonstration.

The court's decision was instead about whether it should impose a pre-emptive restriction on the proposed protest. By declining to do so at this stage, the bench left the handling of law-and-order arrangements to the government and police.

This means that the organisers and authorities will still have to comply with the applicable requirements governing public demonstrations in Delhi.

What happens next in the Supreme Court?

The Supreme Court has kept the matter open and scheduled the next hearing for September 10. The petitioner has also been asked to place the concerns raised in the plea before the Centre and Delhi Police.

The court further directed the petitioner to approach the High Powered Enquiry Committee constituted to examine allegations relating to police violence during earlier NEET protests. The committee's proceedings and the September 10 hearing could provide further clarity on the issues raised before the court.

For now, the Supreme Court has not prohibited the proposed September 5 CJP march. At the same time, Monday's order does not amount to judicial approval of the event. The immediate responsibility for security and public order remains with the competent authorities.

What is the background to the CJP protest?

The CJP's latest mobilisation follows its earlier protests over issues surrounding NEET and alleged police action against demonstrators. The organisation had called off its earlier agitation in July after discussions with the government, but later claimed that commitments made during those discussions had not been fully implemented.

The September 5 march is therefore being presented by the organisation as a renewed mobilisation over those unresolved demands. The Supreme Court's latest proceedings have focused on whether the proposed demonstration should be restricted in advance, rather than determining the merits of all the demands raised by the CJP.

Key Points

• March: September 5, 2026
• Announced route: India Gate to New Delhi Police Headquarters
• Organisation: Cockroach Janata Party (CJP)
• Supreme Court position: No immediate order to stop the proposed march
• Law and order: Responsibility of the competent government and police authorities
• Next hearing: September 10, 2026
• Important: The court's decision does not itself constitute permission for the march

The Supreme Court's order keeps the proposed September 5 demonstration in focus while leaving immediate security and law-and-order decisions to the authorities. The next hearing on September 10 is expected to take the matter forward.