Panel visits Halasuru school to probe 'corporal punishment'

A two-member team from the Karnataka State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) visited a school in Halasuru, after a parent alleged that corporal punishment was being meted out to students.

After their enquiry, the team found the allegations made by a parent, that students were being subjected to beating and other methods of humiliation, to be true. One parent had posted on social media that her child had been beaten and other children’s undergarments were pulled down in front of their peers as punishment.

Chairperson of KSCPCR, Kripa Alva said, "Members of the commission spoke to students, faculty, management and the principal. Since the students are very young, they were not able to explain in detail. However, it is confirmed that the incidents reported by the parent did occur. The extent is not known yet."

The principal and teachers denied any punishment and humiliation of students. There were no CCTV cameras in the classroom where the incident is said to have occurred, Alva said.

KSCPCR has summoned school authorities and parents to the commission on Thursday to probe into the issue further.