The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognisance of a complaint alleging that Independence Day celebrations were not held in several government schools across rural, remote and border areas of Punjab on August 15, 2026.

The NHRC Bench, headed by Priyank Kanoongo, has sought a detailed compliance report from the Punjab government within four weeks. The panel has also sought relevant information from the Ministry of Education and informed the Ministry of Home Affairs for appropriate action.

The complaint alleges that government schools in geographically remote and border areas of Punjab did not conduct the prescribed Independence Day activities. The NHRC has directed the state government to verify the allegations and provide comprehensive details on how the national festival was observed across schools.

NHRC Seeks School-Wise Details

The Punjab Chief Secretary has been asked to submit state-wise, district-wise and school-wise information on Independence Day celebrations held on August 15.

The report is expected to include details of the number of government schools where the national flag was hoisted, the National Anthem was sung and students participated in the celebrations.

The state government has also been directed to identify schools where the prescribed activities were not conducted and explain the reasons for non-compliance.

The NHRC has specifically asked authorities to verify schools located in rural, remote and border areas and examine whether children in these regions had access to the same opportunities to participate in Independence Day celebrations as students elsewhere in Punjab.

Civic Education and Equal Opportunities

The complaint has raised concerns that children studying in schools where Independence Day celebrations were allegedly not held may have been deprived of an important educational and civic experience.

The NHRC observed that national occasions such as Independence Day can provide students with an opportunity to learn about India's freedom struggle, the Constitution, national symbols, civic responsibilities, national unity and democratic values.

The panel has therefore asked the Punjab government to examine whether geographical location resulted in any disparity in students' opportunities to participate in the national celebration.

The issue assumes particular significance for schools in border areas, where students may already face challenges linked to geography, connectivity and access to educational resources.

The NHRC's intervention does not establish that the allegations are true. The state government has been given an opportunity to verify the claims and explain the circumstances in schools where the celebrations may not have taken place.

The compliance report sought within four weeks is expected to provide a clearer picture of the extent of the alleged non-observance and the reasons behind it. The findings could also help determine whether corrective measures are required to ensure that students across Punjab receive equal opportunities to participate in important national and civic events.

A devastating fire broke out at a hotel in central Kolkata in the early hours of Wednesday, August 19, claiming the lives of at least nine people, including a four-year-old child. Six others were injured in the blaze that erupted around 2 am at a five-storey building on Mirza Ghalib Street, also known as Free School Street, near the city's New Market area.

According to initial reports, the fire started on the third floor of the building while several guests were asleep. Thick smoke rapidly spread through the premises, trapping people inside and making rescue operations difficult. Firefighters were alerted at around 2:07 am and rushed to the spot as panic gripped the densely populated area.

Emergency teams, including fire personnel, police and disaster management officials, launched a rescue operation. Firefighters reportedly faced challenges in reaching people trapped on the upper floors because of the heavy smoke. Windows had to be broken in some places to facilitate rescue efforts. The fire was eventually brought under control, while the injured were shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The victims included a child, making the tragedy particularly devastating. Reports from the Fire Department indicated that most of those who died were Bangladeshi nationals who had travelled to Kolkata for medical treatment. The identities and circumstances of the victims are being established by the authorities.

The exact cause of the fire has not yet been officially established. Initial reports have raised the possibility of an air-conditioner explosion, while other reports have mentioned an electrical fault as a possible cause. Authorities are investigating the incident to determine how the fire started and whether any safety violations contributed to the deaths.

The incident has also raised serious questions about fire safety arrangements in hotels and other accommodation facilities operating in congested parts of Kolkata. Reports have highlighted concerns about narrow stairways and the absence of adequate emergency exits and modern fire-safety arrangements in the building. Such conditions can severely restrict evacuation during a fire, particularly when smoke spreads rapidly through enclosed spaces.

The tragedy has once again underlined the importance of functional fire alarms, accessible emergency exits, fire extinguishers, evacuation plans and regular safety inspections in hotels and public buildings. West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services advises people to leave a burning building immediately, call the fire brigade at the earliest and avoid using water in the event of an electrical fire.

As investigations continue, the Kolkata hotel fire has brought renewed focus on the enforcement of fire-safety norms and the need to ensure that accommodation facilities provide safe evacuation routes for guests and staff.

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Students preparing for competitive examinations in Bihar have announced an indefinite hunger strike from August 18, demanding the release of the Teacher Recruitment Exam (TRE) 4 notification, greater transparency in government examinations and the resignation of Education Minister Mithilesh Tiwari.

The decision was taken during a meeting of students in Patna on Thursday. Student leader Dilip said he would begin the hunger strike at Gardanibagh on August 18.

The announcement comes amid growing student protests over delays in government recruitment examinations. Students have previously demonstrated at Jantar Mantar and in Jharkhand, while Bihar aspirants have repeatedly demanded the release of the TRE 4 recruitment notification.

Students threaten march to Assembly

Dilip said students would continue their indefinite hunger strike at Gardanibagh if the government fails to address their demands.

He warned that if there is no satisfactory response within five days of the protest beginning, students will march towards the Bihar Legislative Assembly, while the hunger strike will continue at Gardanibagh.

According to the student leader, the delay has caused frustration among aspirants who have been waiting for the TRE 4 recruitment process to begin.

Dilip also alleged that the education minister had earlier assured students that the TRE 4 notification would be released in July. However, August has now begun and the notification is yet to be issued.

Key demands of Bihar students

The students have put forward a list of demands covering teacher recruitment and other competitive examinations. These include:

• Immediate release of the TRE 4 notification and recruitment against all vacant posts.
• Conducting TRE 4 through a single-stage examination.
• Strict implementation of domicile policies.
• Removal of contractual-service weightage in BSSC recruitment.
• Early conduct of the AEDO examination.
• Expedited recruitment of librarians.
• Greater transparency in examinations, including publication of answer keys and providing candidates with carbon copies of their answer sheets.
• Sending the necessary requisition from the Education Department to the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC).

32,388 teacher posts reportedly requisitioned

Meanwhile, reports indicate that the Bihar Education Department has sent a requisition to the BPSC for recruitment to 32,388 teacher posts.

The proposed recruitment includes 3,847 posts for Classes 1 to 5, 8,563 posts for Classes 6 to 8, 3,877 posts for Classes 9 to 10 and 16,101 posts for Classes 11 to 12.

Earlier plans had envisaged recruitment for a different number of vacancies across these categories.

However, students remain concerned that the State Teacher Eligibility Test (STET) is scheduled to be conducted first, potentially pushing the TRE 4 recruitment process further.

The proposed hunger strike is the latest escalation in the students' campaign for clarity on teacher recruitment and broader reforms in Bihar's competitive examination system.

A research scholar at Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University in Tirur has launched an indefinite protest at the university entrance, alleging caste-based discrimination, harassment and denial of academic support. Anagha Sasi, a research scholar in the Department of Environmental Studies, has accused several faculty members of subjecting her to caste-related harassment since 2024.

Sasi, who is from Kochi, has alleged that despite submitting multiple complaints over the past two years, the university failed to adequately address her grievances. She is now demanding an independent investigation into her allegations and suspension of the faculty members named in her complaints pending the inquiry.

The university, however, has rejected her allegations, describing them as baseless.

Research Scholar Alleges Caste-Based Harassment

According to Sasi, she faced a series of incidents that she considers discriminatory and humiliating during her research work at the university.

She has alleged that she was assigned tasks such as sweeping classrooms, dusting books and files and cleaning laboratory equipment, despite being a research scholar. She also claimed that she was denied essential academic and research support and was at times asked to stand in a corridor without a chair.

In one of her allegations, Sasi claimed that a faculty member told her that she would have to follow his directions if she wanted to continue her PhD studies. She further alleged that the faculty member made a remark suggesting that her fellowship was awarded because of her caste rather than her academic qualifications.

The allegations have raised concerns over the treatment of research scholars and the need for effective mechanisms to address complaints of caste discrimination in higher education institutions.

Scholar Seeks Independent Inquiry

Sasi has said that she approached the university with complaints on several occasions but was dissatisfied with the action taken.

She has also alleged that inquiry committees constituted by the university submitted reports that were unfavourable to her claims. Citing concerns over the impartiality of the previous inquiries, she is seeking an investigation by an independent external agency.

As part of her current protest, Sasi has demanded that the faculty members named in her allegations be suspended while an independent inquiry is conducted.

She has stated that she will continue her indefinite protest until she receives what she considers justice.

MLA, Welfare Party Leader Back Protest

Sasi's protest has received support from political and social figures.

P.K. Navas, a local MLA, has publicly supported her demands and called for an external agency to investigate the allegations. Navas stressed the need to ensure that students receive institutional support and that complaints of discrimination are addressed fairly.

On August 16, Razak Paleri, State President of the Welfare Party of India, visited Sasi at the protest site and also called for an independent investigation.

Paleri questioned the decision to have the university Registrar oversee the inquiry, arguing that the Registrar had previously dealt with Sasi's complaints. He said an external agency would be better placed to examine the allegations impartially.

Paleri also called for Sasi's research guide and research topic to be approved without further delay and urged the university to provide her with the academic resources required to continue her research.

University Rejects Allegations

The university has categorically rejected Sasi's allegations, maintaining that the claims are baseless and unfounded.

The disagreement between the research scholar and the university has now brought renewed attention to issues of caste discrimination, research support and grievance redressal mechanisms in higher education.

Sasi's demand for an external inquiry comes amid a continuing dispute over the earlier institutional investigations into her complaints. With the scholar continuing her indefinite protest and political representatives backing her call for an independent probe, the university is under pressure to address the matter and clarify the steps it intends to take.

The case also highlights the importance of transparent and independent grievance mechanisms for research scholars, particularly when allegations involve faculty members and questions of caste-based discrimination. Any determination regarding the allegations would ultimately depend on the findings of an impartial investigation.

The Rajasthan government has imposed strict restrictions on the entry of unauthorised outsiders into state-run schools, including curbs on photography, videography, interviews and live streaming of school activities. The guidelines were issued on Sunday, the same day the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) announced plans to visit government schools across the state as part of its ‘School Thik Karo’ campaign.

The Rajasthan Secondary Education Department said the new measures are aimed at protecting students’ privacy, dignity, safety and well-being. The government cited the principle of “in loco parentis”, meaning “in place of parents”, to justify stronger safeguards for children within school premises.

The restrictions also refer to the Right to Privacy of children and school safety guidelines issued by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).

CJP Plans Rajasthan Government School Audit

The new guidelines came after CJP leader Ashutosh Ranka announced that he would visit government schools in several Rajasthan cities under the party’s ‘School Thik Karo’ campaign.

Ranka said his team had received requests to inspect schools in Jaipur, Kota, Jodhpur, Ajmer, Udaipur, Bharatpur, Dholpur, Barmer and Hanumangarh. According to the CJP, complaints have been received about allegedly poor infrastructure and deteriorating conditions in some government schools, with demands for repairs reportedly not receiving adequate attention from the administration.

The planned visits are intended to assess school infrastructure, amenities and the quality of education being provided to students.

Rajasthan Govt School Entry Rules

Under the new Rajasthan government school guidelines, outsiders will not be permitted to enter school premises without prior approval from the principal or head of the institution. Authorised government officials are exempt from this requirement.

Visitors who receive permission must record their details in the school visitor register before entering the premises.

The government has also restricted access to sensitive areas. Outsiders cannot enter classrooms, laboratories, libraries, hostels, playgrounds, toilets or other areas where students are engaged in activities unless they are accompanied by the principal, a teacher or another authorised school official.

Principals have also been given the authority to refuse entry to visitors if their presence is considered likely to affect school security, student privacy, discipline or the academic environment.

Photography, Interviews and Live Streaming Restricted

The Rajasthan government has specifically prohibited unauthorised photography, videography, interviews, audio recording and live streaming of students, teachers or school activities.

Such activities will require prior written permission from the principal and must be carried out only for lawful purposes.

The guidelines further state that photographs, videos or personal information relating to students must not be collected, published or disseminated in a manner that compromises their privacy, dignity or safety.

The government has directed school authorities to take immediate action if these rules are violated.

Legal Action Against Unauthorised Visitors

According to the circular, anyone who enters a school without permission and refuses to leave, attempts unauthorised photography or videography, or disrupts school functioning may face legal action.

In such cases, the principal is required to inform the local police and the District Education Officer.

School heads may also direct unauthorised visitors to leave the premises and initiate proceedings under applicable laws, including the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023; Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012; Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015; and Information Technology Act, 2000.

The government has instructed supervisory officers to ensure strict compliance with the new school safety guidelines.

Opposition Accuses BJP Govt Of Hiding Poor School Conditions

The restrictions have drawn criticism from the Opposition. Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra accused the BJP government of attempting to conceal alleged shortcomings in the state’s government school system rather than addressing them.

He alleged that instead of improving school infrastructure and educational facilities, the government was trying to prevent outsiders from seeing the condition of government schools.

The latest development has therefore triggered a debate over the balance between student privacy and transparency in government schools. While the government has emphasised child safety and privacy, the Opposition has questioned whether the restrictions could make independent scrutiny of school infrastructure more difficult.

As the CJP prepares for its proposed Rajasthan government school audit, attention is likely to remain focused on how the new entry and photography rules will be implemented and whether they affect efforts to independently assess the condition of government schools.

Students in Jharkhand’s Garhwa district have been protesting the transfer of a teacher from their high school for the past three days, with the agitation turning tense on Thursday following a confrontation between the protesters and Kandi block chief Pinku Pandey.

The students, along with other protesters, have been demanding that the transfer of teacher Malay Singh be cancelled. The protest initially took place at the district collectorate before spreading to the Kandi block, where students blocked roads as part of their agitation.

The situation escalated when Kandi block chief Pinku Pandey reached the protest site to speak to the students and other protesters who were blocking the road.

According to reports, a confrontation broke out during which Pandey allegedly slapped one of the students. The incident further inflamed the situation, with protesters allegedly damaging the block chief’s vehicle.

Pandey subsequently left the spot and took shelter at a nearby police station. The protesting students also reached the police station following the confrontation.

The students have remained firm on their demand that Singh’s transfer be revoked. They are also seeking action against those involved in the confrontation and have continued their road blockade.

The protest has disrupted normal activity in the area as the students insist that the teacher should be allowed to continue at the school.

Police have been monitoring the situation and attempting to prevent further escalation. A Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) said authorities had received information about the incident and informed senior officials.

Additional police personnel were being dispatched to the area, the officer said, adding that efforts were underway to persuade the students to withdraw the road blockade and bring the situation under control.

The incident highlights the growing influence of student-led protests over school and administrative decisions, with the transfer of a teacher triggering sustained mobilisation in the district.

Authorities are now working to de-escalate the situation while addressing the students’ concerns and assessing the circumstances surrounding the confrontation.

Further developments are awaited.