Explainer: Death of boy at unregistered Sirsa play school exposes systemic failures

The death of 4-year-old Armaan at an unregistered play school in Mamera Kalan village of Sirsa, has raised serious concerns about how such schools are managed and checked for safety in Haryana. Even though the Punjab and Haryana High Court has taken suo motu notice of the case, no FIR (First Information Report) has been filed as on July 11.A 20-page report by the District Child Welfare Committee (CWC) has shown mistakes made by both school and government departments. The Women and Child Development Department has clear rules for private play schools which stress the importance of proper buildings, trained staff and child safety. Meanwhile, Armaan’s family said the school was careless and did not act quickly when he became unwell.What were the findings of the Child Welfare Committee’s report?The District Child Welfare Committee (CWC) found that the play school where Armaan was studying was illegal and working from a rented home. It was not registered and did not have basic equipment such as CCTV cameras and there were no clean toilets, good ventilation or trained staff. It also failed to follow safety rules. The school was run by Bhupender Singh, who did not have the right qualifications to run a school. He was also running another unregistered play school in Ellenabad. The Education Department said it had sent a notice to shut down the school in April 2025, but they could not show proof that the school received it. Even after several reminders, neither the school nor the department gave a copy of the notice to the committee.What does the family allege about the incident?According to statements given to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Armaan’s father, Sukhdev Singh, said his son became very sick at 9:30 am on July 2. Instead of calling the family immediately, the school staff took Armaan to two different private hospitals and then finally to Sirsa government hospital. He was declared dead at 1:25 pm. The family says the school tried to hide what had happened and even told them not to go to the police. Sukhdev Singh also said when he reached the school, it was locked. He was told that Armaan had fainted during lunch and was left alone for about 30 minutes.What legal or administrative action has been taken so far?After ‘The Tribune’ published a news report about the incident on July 6, the Punjab and Haryana High Court started a case as public interest litigation (PIL). The court has sent notices to the Haryana Government and other departments involved. However, according to Ellenabad Station House Officer (SHO) Pargat Singh, “No FIR has been filed yet. The Child Welfare Department is still investigating the case. A post-mortem was conducted on the same day and the reason for Armaan’s death will be confirmed after the medical report is ready.”Who can apply to open or run a private play school in Haryana and what documents are needed?According to the Women and Child Development Department, Haryana, that any registered person, Trust, NGO, society, or company can apply to open or run a private play school. There is no fee to apply. The important documents required include land ownership or lease papers, safety and cleanliness certificates, building plan, financial report, registration certificate, an affidavit, and a resolution if the applicant is an organisation.How can someone apply to get a private play school recognised?If someone wants to open a new play school or get recognition for an existing one, they have to apply online through the website saralharyana.gov.in. The application must be addressed to the Joint Director of the Women and Child Development Department. It should be filled using the official format given in the department’s user manual. What rules must a private play school follow in Haryana?The Women and Child Development Department has made clear rules for private play schools. A school must have at least 0.2 acres of land and a strong, weather-safe building. It must have toilets suitable for children, proper classrooms, clean drinking water, fire safety equipment and CCTV cameras. For every 20 children, there must be one teacher and one helper. The school should be open for at least three to four hours each day. It must also keep records of hygiene, first-aid, and safety. There should be an affidavit to confirm that none of the staff have a criminal background.

Explainer: Death of boy at unregistered Sirsa play school exposes systemic failures

Anil Kakkar

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