Tamil Nadu

High Court rejects teacher’s bail plea

CHENNAI: It is time that the authorities concerned worked out an effective solution to prevent sexual abuse and harassment of girl students on school premises through confidential and independent monitoring mechanism, the Madras High Court has suggested.

It was very unfortunate and shocking to note that a teacher was alleged to have abused a student. Teachers were the guiding stars, custodians and guardians of students on the institution premises. A general view among the public was that children were safer at schools. But, unfortunately, recent reports of incidents of sexual abuse of children in schools caused a serious concern, Justice K.N. Basha said while dismissing the bail plea of a city school teacher who was arrested last month on the charge of sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl student on the school premises.

Mr. Justice Basha said the recent report of the National Crime Records Bureau reflected frequent reports of abuse on children. The sad part was that most of the incidents of child sexual abuse were not reported to the police. A danger of this grave offence was that children committed suicide due to abuse.

Molestation by teachers came to light during a one-day hearing of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights in Chennai in January.

The Judge said teachers were responsible for moulding and shaping the character and career of students. However, the act of a few teachers indulging in abuse tarnished the image of the teaching profession.

“This court has no hesitation to state that the offence should be viewed with all seriousness and dealt with an iron hand by the authorities concerned,” he said.

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