Incidents many, but cases just a few

Incidents many, but cases just a few

Do you know how many cases are under trial in courts in the state? Just 15 though you hear about instances of corporal punishments almost every day. Why so few then?  More surprisingly, there have been no convictions so far.

The state has recorded around 35 cases of physical punishment of school children in the last three months. Of these, around five have been reported from the state capital alone. According to sources, nearly 293 cases of corporal punishment were recorded last year. These include incidents of suicide due to mental stress.

The NCPCR has sought details regarding 27 cases while eight cases are being handled by the Andhra Pradesh State Human Rights Commission (APSHRC). Child punishment attracts a fine of Rs 25,000 and imprisonment up to three years.

Most of the cases of corporal punishment registered by the law & order police are transferred to the crime investigation department (CID) which will look into the issue to take appropriate action against the accused.

Additional director-general of police (CID) T Krishna Prasad, who has taken charge recently, says: `Corporal punishment is a crime. The Supreme Court court has already passed orders banning the heinous practice in schools. Yet, many incidents of corporal punishment are reported from various places in the state.

The police are trying to prevent such incidents from happening but they are not meeting with success. “We ask our sub-inspectors to hold meetings with school managements to ensure that the rights of children are not violated. Senior officials are required to visit schools and speak to children and teachers,’’ Krishna Prasad said.

Recently, a teacher-cum-principal caned a UKG student of Orbit Grammar School at Indira Gandhi Puram in Sanatnagar police limits in Hyderabad. The mother of 5-year-old Mohammed Ghouse had requested the teacher, Mumtaz Hussain (45), to deal with her son who refused to go to school. The teacher, on seeing the boy not listening to the teacher but talking to fellow students, caned him. The caning caused such severe injuries on the boy’s back that he collapsed on the floor in the classroom itself. Basing on the complaint lodged by the parent, the police registered a case against the teacher, Mumtaz, under Section 324 (voluntarily causing hurt with dangerous weapons or other means) of IPC. Mumtaz has been released recently from jail on bail. The case is still pending in a local court.

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