The Allahabad High Court has dismissed an anticipatory bail application from a school teacher implicated in a highly controversial case involving the instigation of violence against a Muslim student in a class 2 classroom. Justice Deepak Verma ruled against the teacher, Tripti Tyagi, directing her to surrender to the court within two weeks to seek regular bail.
The incident, which gained significant public and media attention, occurred in August 2023 in Khubbapur village. A video that surfaced online showed Tyagi encouraging her class 2 students to slap a Muslim classmate while making a communal remark. This action not only sparked outrage but also led to legal action against Tyagi.
According to Kamran Zaidi, the lawyer representing the victim, the anticipatory bail had previously been rejected by a lower court on October 16. The high court’s decision on November 23 upheld this earlier judgment. Tyagi faces charges under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including voluntarily causing hurt, intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace, and deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings. Additionally, she is charged under Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act.
Following the incident, the Muzaffarnagar police initiated a case against Tyagi, and the local education department issued a notice to the school. The case reached the Supreme Court, which on November 10, criticized the Uttar Pradesh government for failing to provide adequate counseling for the affected child as previously ordered. The apex court, voiced by Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan, expressed disappointment over the state’s handling of the aftermath, emphasizing the need for a more proactive response to safeguard the welfare of the child involved.
