Odisha Teacher Beats 31 Students For Not Touching Her Feet; Suspended

A female teacher in a government-run school in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district has been suspended for allegedly beating 31 students for not touching her feet after morning prayers. The incident occurred on Friday at Khandadeula Government Upper Primary School under Betnoti block in Mayurbhanj district, where the suspended teacher, Sukanti Kar, was working as an assistant teacher.

After the morning prayers, when the students of Classes 6, 7, and 8 went to their classrooms, the teacher reportedly entered their rooms and assaulted them for not touching her feet, as per the reports.

Upon being informed, the parents rushed to the school and demanded action against the teacher.

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One boy reportedly suffered a fractured hand, while a girl lost consciousness and had to be taken to a hospital, according to the school management committee after its inquiry.

Following complaints by the parents of the students, an inquiry was conducted by the local education department officials, who spoke to the students and found the teacher guilty.

The inquiry committee included headmaster Purnachandra Ojha, Block Education Officer (BEO) Biplab Kar, Cluster Resource Centre Coordinator Debashish Sahu, and members of the school management committee.

The teacher has been suspended based on the findings of the inquiry of the committee.

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Notably, the corporal punishment in Indian schools is illegal under Section 17 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, which prohibits physical punishment and mental harassment, making any contravention a punishable offense subject to disciplinary action.