Indian Law: Corporal Punishment to be Banned

The practice of corporal punishment is often adopted by teachers, to implement discipline, among students. Corporal punishment is an extreme breach of children’s right to protection, besides being a form of physical/mental violence. As per Indian law, corporal punishment amounts to human rights violations too. According to the official report of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, conducted in 2007, on child abuse, two out of every three students are physically abused. Further, 73% of boys face physical punishment as compared to 65% of girls.  All of this makes children fear teachers and become miserable in class. However, most of the students choose to suffer silently, rather than reporting the matter to parents or to others.

Indian Law: New Rules to Ban Corporal Punishment

Finally, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has issued a new set of rules that bans corporal punishment in consonance with Indian law. This is the government’s latest warning to teachers and schools to stop any form of corporal punishment on children. Perhaps this initiative by the government was prompted by the tragic death of 12 year old Rouvanjit Rawla, a student of Kolkata’s La Martiniere School for Boys. As per reported facts, Rouvanjit committed suicide, few days after he was humiliated and beaten up by his school principal. Rouvanjit’s death provoked several heated debates and public outrage on how schools treat children and disown them by blaming it on their conduct when their actions are exposed.

The new rules provides for setting up child rights cells in all schools where children can file a complaint. Further, a first time defaulter would be liable for imprisonment up to 1 year or fine of Rs.50, 000 or both.  For subsequent offences, he will be liable for jail term up to 3 years and additional fine of Rs.25, 000.

Also, the Government is currently working on the final draft of the Prevention of Child Offences Bill. The Bill provides that even parents and acquaintances will be held liable for physically punishing children. Further, it is likely that the proposed Bill will also include verbal abuse, molesting and ragging, apart from physical and sexual abuse.