Teachers' slapping students as part of discipline not a criminal offence, says HC

KOCHI: High Court has ruled that it is not a criminal offense for teachers to slap students on the cheeks to maintain discipline in school. If the child is not injured, it cannot be seen as assault or a serious crime.

Justice A Badruddin also ordered to end the further proceedings in the case registered by the Pavaratti police on the complaint of the children. The Principal and Vice Principal of Chittattukara Sri Gokulam Public School approached the High Court.

21 children staying in the school hostel had a special class from 6 pm to 10 pm. The complaint is that on, five children who were singing while eating during class break were called to the principal's room on the morning of January 10 and the principal and vice principal slapped their cheeks and grabbed them by the collar of their shirts.

The court held that the teachers slapping the children on the cheek for infraction of discipline cannot be considered as a serious offence. Earlier in another case, the High Court had clarified that punishment by a teacher for the well-being of children is not a criminal offence. The court also observed that when enrolling in school, parents indirectly transfer the permission to punish children as part of personality development, discipline etc. to the teacher.