Student Commits Suicide After Being Scolded by the School Charmain in an Offensive Manner

CASE: Ganpatrao Patil vs the State of Maharashtra

COURT: Justice Vinay Joshi, Bombay High Court

The HC last month denied anticipatory bail to the chairman of an international school, booked for abetting the suicide of a class 10 student by scolding and using filthy language against the child. The Court said that "No doubt, a teacher can reprimand students, but not in such a language which would shatter the tender mind".

FACTS

On April 1, 2022, the chairman of symbolic International School, Ganpatrao Patil, scolded the deceased after he hit a football on a girl by mistake.

Ganpatrao allegedly scolded the deceased by saying that he was a "Nalayak, Dharti Ka Bojh, slum-dweller, etc. He also called the grandfather of the teenager to inform him that the deceased had behaved unruly and that he should be rusticated from the school. Thereafter, the Informant (grandfather) took his grandson to his house, who within a few hours committed suicide by way of hanging. 

After the death of the child, Patil was booked for abetting suicide and criminal intimidation by the Kolhapur Police.  

HELD

"Ganpat had lambasted the minor in an unruly manner. In presence of a teacher and the Informant (grandfather) was again scolded in unparliamentary words. Prima facie, suggests that the applicant has created an impression in the mind of the student to put him in deep frustration. It requires to be noted that there is a direct link to the applicant’s act since, within a few hours from the episode, the child has ended his life by suicide. The criteria for regular bail and pre-arrest bail differ from fact to fact. A minor lost his life in proximity to the act of the applicant and hence, no case is made out to grant pre-arrest protection, hence, the application stands rejected."