Bail for Landhoni
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 01 2019: The High Court of Manipur ordered the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Imphal West II, to allow the bail application filed by Pheiroijam Landhoni, Principal cum founder of Standard Robarth Higher Secondary School, and her daughter, Pheiroijam Romita (coordinator of the same school) and release them on a PR bond of Rs 1 lakh each.

It may be mentioned that the judgement of the High Court had been kept reserved following the hearing yesterday.

The petitions explained that Ph Romita is an employee of Standard Robarth Higher Secondary School, while Ph Landhoni is the Principal cum-founder of the same school.

They have been in judicial custody in connection with the death of a student inside the school's hostel on July 18 .

Following the incident, Singjamei PS had registered an FIR against the two individuals and they were arrested on August 3 .

According to the bail petitions, Ph Romita is a a mother of two school goers, aged 12 and 5 years respectively.

Her husband, who is serving in the Indian Army, was recently transferred and posted outside the State.

As such, the petition claimed that her children will require attention, which if delayed, will severely affect them and is against the principle of child rights.

The petition further claimed that there is no situation to give credence to the claim that she committed the crime as alleged in the prosecution's story and being a co-ordinator of the school, she has no direct interaction with the students and she only worked at the school during day time, from 9 am to 3.30 pm .

On the other hand, the petition mentioned that the main allegations against Ph Landhoni is for not following the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court regarding child safety and for not providing necessary medical and psychological assistance to the children staying in the school.

The petition alleged that the school authority was never informed about the condition of the family of the deceased.

Landhoni has never been a class teacher of the deceased, nor a member of the teaching faculty of the class, in which the deceased studied.

She has been made an accused in the case just because she happened to be the Principal-cum-founder of the school.

After hearing the submissions of the petitioners's counsels and the APP of the High Court, the Court ordered the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Imphal West II to facilitate the release of the two individuals upon furnishing a PR bond of Rs 1 lakh each along with two sureties of the same amount.

The Court further directed the two individuals to report before the police for 30 days, at 10 am daily and to make themselves available for interrogation as and when required before the authorities concerned.

It further directed Judicial Magistrate First Class, Imphal West II to take appropriate actions against them if they breach any of the conditions imposed by the Court.

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