The Supreme Court directed all state governments to ensure implementation of the Centre’s guidelines on safety and security of children in every school across the country.

Chief Justice Dipak Misra issued notice to chief secretaries of all states to assure that they file the reply to the petitions, including the petition filed by the father of Pradyuman Thakur, seven-year-old schoolboy who was murdered at Ryan International School in Gurugram.

Solicitor general Ranjit Kumar, appearing for the Centre, said the response was ready and would be filed within the week. He also added that the Centre is periodically issuing guidelines on safety of children to state governments for implementation in schools.

The bench comprising of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice A M Khanwilkar, noted that several guidelines have been issued by Centre and the CBSE, further directed them to put them on their respective websites and also directed the state governments to suggest additional guidelines to ensure that children are safe in schools.

“The states shall see that Centre’s guidelines are implemented in “reality” and roadmap for their implementation are also put in place so that children are safe,” the bench said, adding that non-implementation of said guidelines would invite “adverse consequences”.

Advocate Sushil Tekriwal, appearing for Barun Chandra Thakur, father of the victim boy, said that he would be filing a rejoinder to the response filed by the CBSE.

Recently, the CBSE said the murder of the seven-year-old Pradyuman Thakur, student of Gurugram’s Ryan International School took place due to the “negligence” of school administration as drivers, conductors were allowed to use washrooms meant only for kids and staff.

The seven-year-old, was found dead with his throat slit by a sharp-edged weapon on the morning of September 8. It was suspected that he was killed by bus conductor Ashok Kumar inside the toilet.

The deceased boy’s father, in his plea, seeks for laying down of guidelines by which “liability, responsibility and accountability of the management of the schools” across the country can be fixed in matters relating to safety and security of children at schools.

The court scheduled the next hearing on October 30 and asked the states to file reply in the meantime.