Chennai: A pinch on a student’s cheek cost a city Hindi teacher Rs 50,000. Teacher T Ramagowri pinched a VII standard boy on his cheek and “punched him with her sharp nails” on March 2, 2007 for not properly doing his home work. The boy’s mother initiated legal proceedings immediately, first approaching the police and State Human Rights Commission.
The 7-year battle ended earlier this month when the teacher entered into a compromise with the mother and reached an amicable settlement before the Madras high court by agreeing to pay Rs 50,000 towards damages to the boy.
Recording the same, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M Sathyanarayanan disposed of the petitions filed by Ramagowri and A Meharunnisa, mother of the boy. The matter has been listed on December 16 for compliance.
According to Haja Mohideen Gisthi, counsel for Meharunnisa, her son was studying in VII standard in Kesari higher secondary school in Mylapore.
He was beaten black and blue by the Hindi teacher, who pinched and punched him with her sharp nails on March 2, 2007, which resulted in severe bleeding injuries behind his right ear.
A complaint was lodged with the police, following which a case was registered and a charge sheet was filed before the Metropolitan Magistrate, Saidapet. She also approached the SHRC, which held that the teacher violated the human rights of the student and imposed Rs 1,000 as compensation for the same. Meharunnisa challenged it in the HC.
Meanwhile, the teacher also filed a petition to quash the order of the SHRC. The bench said the son of the petitioner was pinched on the cheek by the teacher. On a complaint to the school, disciplinary action was initiated and an apology letter was given by the teacher. The matter did not rest with this, as an FIR was filed against the teacher.
The mother also filed a petition before the SHRC, which imposed a sum of Rs 1,000 as compensation for violation of the human rights of the victim. The mother has filed the present petition primarily on the ground of inadequacy of compensation.
The bench said as per the terms of compromise, the teacher will pay Rs 50,000 in the name of the student within 6 weeks.
