Kolkata, October 4
Seven months after 13-year-old student Rouvanjit Rawla committed suicide following his caning, the principal and three teachers La Martiniere for Boys School were arrested this morning but later granted bail by a court here.

Principal Sunirmal Chakravarti and three teachers - Garnian, Partho Dutta and David Raun - were arrested in connection with the suicide of class VIII student Rouvanjit on February 12, four days after being caned by the principal, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Damayanti Sen said. The four arrested were produced before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s court and were charged with Sections 323 and 324 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 352 (punishment without grave provocation) of the IPC and Section 23 of the Juvenile Justice (negligence of duty) Act. Judge Ravi Ranjan Chakraborty granted them bail against a personal bond of Rs 500.

Speaking to reporters, lawyer Amiya Chakraborty, who stood for the teachers, said the police had initially started the case under Section 305 (abetment to suicide of child or an insane) IPC, but later during investigation changed to Sections 323, 324 and 352 of the IPC and Section 23 of the Juvenile Justice (negligence of duty) Act. “These are all bailable sections,” Chakraborty said.

Following his death, Rouvanjit’s father Ajay had filed a complaint against the school principal and teachers for subjecting his son to corporal punishment. Describing the arrest as a ‘breakthrough’, Ajay said the accused should be so dealt with that other children would not have to suffer such ill treatment in future. “All we are praying for is that those who tormented our child and treated him so badly should be dealt with as per law and...an example must be set before teachers not to treat students in this way,” he said. “I am very grateful to God and the authorities for not letting the crime be swept under the carpet,” he added. The National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights had conducted an inquiry in June that found the school and the teachers guilty and had recommended suspension of the accused. — PTI

New Delhi, October 4
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) today raised the pitch for the removal of Principal and teachers of La Maritiniere Boys School, Kolkata, arrested today for physically assaulting student Rouvanjit Rawla, who later committed suicide.

The board of the school has so far backed the erring teachers, not recommending even their suspension despite NCPCR’s inquiry clearly establishing a link between the child’s humiliation and his consequent suicide. The report, which was finalised on June 22, had recommended suspension of Principal Sunirmal Chakraborty, middle school in charge LG Gunnion, and two other teachers, who allegedly hurt the child. Rouvanjit died on February 12.

Today, after the arrest of school authorities the NCPCR report had named, panel chairperson Shanta Sinha said the school board should now remove those chargesheeted, never mind the fact that they got bailed out.

“The arrest of these teachers sends out a strong anti-corporal punishment message to every state government and every school. We reiterate our stand that emotional and physical hurt of children is unacceptable and outlawed by the Right to Education Act.,” she said.

The commission has already issued instructions to every state government to ensure that schools have child right cells, spaces where children can report their grievances and a system to address these issues. None of the states has so far complied with these orders.

Meanwhile, child rights activist Ashok Agarwal, who headed the three-member panel the NCPCR had set up to look into Rawla’s suicide, today said La Maritiniere school could straightway remove the Principal and other teachers found responsible for severely thrashing the child.