Will recommend suspending teacher who assaulted 2 kids at govt school, says panel

Raipur: The Chhattisgarh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has taken cognisance of an alleged physical assault on two students by a teacher at a govt-run residential school in Raipur and has also sought the teacher's suspension.Commission chairperson Dr Varnika Sharma visited the school on Saturday and spoke with the students. A member of the child welfare committee, Raipur, was also part of the inspection team.Preliminary findings suggest that a geography teacher physically assaulted the children. One student sustained a minor fracture in his hand along with leg injuries. The school principal conducted an X-ray, which confirmed the injuries.Dr Sharma said a recommendation would be made to suspend the teacher to ensure the investigation is not influenced. "The rights of children will not be compromised. The incident will be thoroughly investigated, and strict action will be taken against the guilty," she stated. The incident occurred on Friday, Aug 29, when two Class 10 students were found with a mobile phone during a routine inspection. Mobile phones are prohibited in the hostel, and students are allowed to contact their families only during designated evening hours.She stressed that corporal punishment is a violation under the Child Protection Act. "Staff cannot physically harm children even if they possess a mobile phone," she said, adding that both the students and the teacher would be called for a hearing before a final decision is made.She further said that how the students obtained the mobile phone is also under inquiry, noting that they may have received it from relatives while playing outside the hostel premises.