PATNA: Two women teachers of a prominent school in Patna were on Friday handed jail terms by a court that found them guilty of having committed an unnatural sexual act with a five-year-old girl student two years ago.
The two teachers were awarded ten years and seven years in jail respectively by special judge Ravindra Nath Tripathi. A fine of Rs 20,000 each was also imposed on the two teachers, said Special Public Prosecutor Suresh Chandra Prasad. The court had convicted the duo on July 11.
The two women were held guilty under various sections of the IPC and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. One teacher was awarded a longer jail term because it was she who carried out the sexual assault on the young girl, while the other teacher used to watch it and stand guard, said court sources.
The scandal hit the school in November 2016 when the Lower Kindergarten student's parents complained of sexual assault on her by some teachers. After their complaints were brushed away by the school management, they approached police and media.
An FIR was lodged at the women's police station under Section 377/34 of IPC and Section 6 of the POCSO Act. The two teachers were arrested a few days later and remanded to judicial custody.
The girl's parents had accused the two teachers of indulging in "unnatural sex" with her in the school's rest room after classes were over.
With the medical tests conducted on the girl confirming sexual assault, the two teachers were investigated for allegations of running a pedophile racket, but no such matter came to light.
The National Commission for Women had taken cognizance of the case and sought a detailed report from Bihar police.
NCW member Sushma Sahu had described the two teachers' act as a "shameful incident in a temple of learning".