Corporal punishment: 3 teachers suspended in Tamil Nadu

Mangalore Today News Network/NDTV

Perambalur, July 21, 2012: Three teachers of a private school in Tamil Nadu’s Perambalur district have been suspended for whipping a student. However, the class nine student’s allegation that teachers had forced him to drink urine has been found to be false. The teachers are likely to be arrested.

The Chief Educational Officer of Perambalur district, Ms Mallika who conducted an enquiry told NDTV that the teachers have confessed to have beaten up the boy.  She said, according to the teacher, "the boy used ’hans’, a narcotic substance on campus; he was warned twice but despite that he continued to bring it to school and even encouraged other students to use it". This, the teachers told her, "angered" them.

The student who suffered severe bruises is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Kumbakonam. He was enquired on the phone and the CEO clarified that the boy’s allegation that teachers forced him to drink urine has been found to be not true. The boy had earlier told the media that the teachers forced him to drink urine for asking permission to go to the toilet to pass urine.

The three teachers are likely to be arrested. The District SP told NDTV, "the police have just received a complaint and investigation will begin soon".

Although corporal punishment has been banned in India, the harassment continues in schools due to lack of sensitivity among teachers and poor enforcement.