Three Years On: Aarvey’s Mother Protests Judicial Delays at Jantar Mantar

Surrounded by a resolute gathering at Jantar Mantar, Aarti Malhotra, mother of the late Aarvey Malhotra, carried on her relentless fight for justice, commemorating three years since the heartbreaking loss of her son. Aarvey, who was only 16 and a student, ended his life on February 24, 2022, due to persistent bullying and mistreatment. The protest, which Aarti had put together, was more than just a plea for the legal system to take responsibility; it was a powerful demand for tougher laws against bullying and swift measures against any school that turns a blind eye to such behavior.

Aarti, who has since become a beacon of hope for families facing similar struggles, took to Instagram (@internetkimummy) to share her journey and support thousands of children experiencing trauma at home and school. With over 408K followers, her digital activism amplifies stories of those failed by the system.

Speaking at the protest, she criticized the sluggish judicial process, stating,

“Justice delayed is justice denied. Schools prioritize their reputation over student safety, and families fighting for their children face relentless harassment.”

The protest, attended by grieving parents, activists, and survivors, underscored the systemic failures in protecting children from bullying and harassment.

One such parent, Rahul Saraswat, who lost his son Kintan under similar circumstances, shared,

“We sat outside the school for 14 days, demanding answers. Instead of justice, we were detained by the police. How many more parents must suffer before something changes?”

Judicial Delays: A Barrier to Justice for Families of Victims

Despite stringent laws like the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act and anti-bullying regulations, legal delays continue to deny justice to grieving families. Aarti Malhotra’s struggle is emblematic of a larger issue—schools and authorities often delay or suppress cases to protect their image.

The judicial backlog in India exacerbates the suffering of parents like Aarti and Rahul. According to the National Judicial Data Grid, over 4.3 crore cases are pending across Indian courts, with child rights violations often being deprioritized. Experts argue that fast-track courts for school-related abuse cases could alleviate some of these delays.

“The court system is not designed for the urgency child abuse cases require,” says legal expert Ranjana Kumari. “We need designated tribunals to ensure swift justice.”

Aarti and the group of protesters she was with demanded that the time taken for trials about child abuse should be reduced and that there should be separate, unbiased inquiries into cases where schools might have ignored their responsibilities. One of the main issues here is that schools often don’t take the right steps when these things happen, and sometimes they even go so far as to keep the victims from speaking up. This lack of accountability is a problem that keeps coming up in these kinds of situations.

Stronger Anti-Bullying Laws: A Growing Demand from Parents and Activists

India’s current laws against bullying are unfortunately not always put into action the way they should be. This means that sad incidents, like what happened to Aarvey, can sometimes go unnoticed. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) does say that schools should have rules against bullying, but there isn’t much to make sure these rules are followed or that anyone is keeping an eye on it.

People who fight for change think we need to do a lot more. They say that teachers and others who work in schools should have to go through training to understand bullying better. Schools should be legally required to tell someone when bullying happens. And if schools don’t do their part to stop it, they should have to face serious consequences.

Students who are LGBTQIA+ are even more at risk. They often have to deal with extra unfair treatment, and there isn’t a clear way for them to get help or for their problems to be fixed. Something big needs to change in the system to keep them safe and make sure everyone is treated fairly.

“The government must introduce compulsory training sessions for school staff and ensure independent regulatory bodies monitor compliance,” said Priya Menon, a child rights advocate. “Ignoring bullying is as much an offense as committing it.”

Aarti, along with a group of concerned parents, handed over a list with five main points to the people in charge of the school situation. They really want the schools to crack down harder on bullying and make sure everyone knows about important laws like POCSO. They also want students to understand their own legal rights better.

People who are fighting for change are working hard to keep Aarvey’s story from becoming just another statistic.