Mumbai- The death of 13-year-old Kajal Gaur of Vasai has shaken the entire state of Maharashtra. A teacher allegedly punished her with 100 sit-ups for being 10 minutes late to school. Her health deteriorated subsequently, and she died while undergoing treatment at JJ Hospital.

A petition has been filed in the Bombay High Court in this entire matter, demanding that the court take suo motu cognizance and initiate action.

This petition has been filed by advocate Swapna Pramod Kode, addressed to the Chief Justice, Chandrashekhar. She has appealed to the court to expedite the investigation of this matter, stating that it is not just the death of a child but a human and constitutional issue.

The petition demands the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the school's illegal operations and all the circumstances behind this death. It also seeks immediate registration of an FIR against the school management and the accused teacher.

According to the petition, Kajal Gaur, a class 6 student, was asked to do 100 sit-ups on November 8, 2025, for being late. Kajal's condition began to worsen after returning home from school. She was first admitted to a hospital in Vasai, and when her condition deteriorated, she was taken to JJ Hospital, where she died on November 14.

The Waliv Police have so far only registered a case of Accidental Death and are awaiting the forensic report results to file an FIR.

Meanwhile, the school claims that they were aware of Kajal's poor health and had asked her parents to seek medical help. However, the punishing teacher, Mamta Yadav, allegedly did not know that Kajal was in the group of children being punished. The Principal stated that the teacher could not identify her because of her short height, although the teacher has been suspended until the investigation is complete.

The petition states that every citizen has the right to life and dignity. No person can be deprived of life except by the law. Here, a minor girl was given a punishment that led to her death. This is against the principles of justice and points to a major crime.

Advocate Swapna Kode has demanded that the court form an SIT to quickly investigate the entire incident and register a case against the school management and the accused teacher. She also called for an investigation into the school's illegal functioning, and its recognition should be cancelled if necessary. She further demanded directives to be issued to ban physical punishment across the state and to secure the educational future of affected students, including Kajal's brother.