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Teachers Acquitted: Child Abuse Case Dismissed by Court
19 Mar
Summary
- Three teachers were acquitted in a child abuse case from July 2016.
- The court found insufficient evidence to convict the accused teachers.
- Investigating officer's lapses contributed to the case's dismissal.
A city sessions court on Wednesday acquitted three teachers from Mt Carmel High School, who had been charged with causing mental and physical agony to a primary section student. The incident allegedly occurred in July 2016.
The complaint, filed by the child's parents, accused the teachers of beating, harassing, and locking the child in a bathroom. However, a doctor's examination yielded a negative opinion on physical torture.
The teachers faced charges under the Juvenile Justice Act and IPC for abetment. The court did not find sufficient evidence to convict them, granting them the benefit of the doubt.
During the trial, the investigating officer admitted to not reviewing CCTV footage or recording statements from school staff and students. He also failed to refer the case for official counseling, as mandated by the Juvenile Justice Act.
Additional sessions judge M.P. Purohit noted the authorities' failure to explain investigative delays and the lack of seized CCTV evidence. Consequently, the court found no conclusive proof of the accused's involvement in the alleged crime.
