Corporal punishment in two schools, suo motu registered

The Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) has registered a suo motu case in connection with the alleged cases of corporal punishment meted out to two students by teachers in a private school in Bengaluru and a residential school in Chitradurga district.

The commission has issued notices to the Deputy Directors of Public Instruction (DDPIs) concerned and asked them to visit the schools, conduct an investigation and submit a report within seven days.

“A class 5 student studying at St. Mary’s Public School, Sunkadakatte, Bengaluru was severely punished by the principal and teachers for not attending school for two days. The child, who is shocked by this incident, is behaving strangely and is currently being treated in a hospital. An FIR has been registered against the school principal and teachers based on the complaint filed by the parents. The parents have expressed their anger over the police not taking any action against the culprits so far and have demanded the commission to provide them appropriate justice,” reads the notice.

Anjanappa K.G., DDPI of Bengaluru North district, said, “Our officers have already been sent to the school, and all the information has been collected. I have also called the parents and inquired about the health of the student. On Thursday, I will meet the student’s parents again, get information and submit a report to the Commissioner of the Public Instruction and KSCPCR.”

In addition, a student studying at residential school run by Sri Guru Tipperudraswamy temple in Nayaknahatti, Challakere taluk of Chitradurga district was assaulted by a Sanskrit teacher T. Veeresh, for calling his grandmother. In a video clip of the incident, the teacher is seen repeatedly kicking the student, even as the boy is seen apologising repeatedly. A case has been registered against him and the accused teacher has been arrested.

Speaking to The Hindu, Shashidhar Kosambi, member of KSCPCR said, “Giving corporal punishment to students is a punishable offence. A report has been sought from the DDPIs concerned on both the cases and notices have also been issued to the school managements. As soon as the report comes, appropriate legal action will be recommended to the government against the guilty.”

Further, he stated that the student who was assaulted by the Sanskrit teacher at the Nayakanahatti residential school is from Kurugodu taluk of Ballari district and has already obtained a transfer certificate (TC) and enrolled in another school. The other four children in the school have also been produced before the Child Welfare Committee and those children have been given care and protection at the residential school of the Social Welfare Department.

“It has been decided to enrol these children in another school. The Child Welfare Committee has been instructed to take appropriate decision,” he added.