Kolkata: Kolkata's La Martiniere School for Boys has denied that a student's suicide can be linked to his caning by the school's principal days before his death.
Nevertheless, on Friday, the school's Board of Governors announced new rules for teachers. Corporal punishment has been banned, and "no child shall be subjected to physical punishment or mental harassment." Teachers found guilty of corporal punishment will be suspended, states a press release.
Thirteen-year-old Rouvan Rawla was caned on February 9. He was found hanging in his home on February 13. Sunirmal Chakravarthi, the principal, told NDTV earlier this week that he was not aware that canning was illegal. He also said, "La Martiniere firmly believes that we need to correct children and we need to punish them in a fair manner, in a compassionate way." (
Read: Didn't know corporal punishment was illegal, says La Martiniere principal)
Rouvan's father, Ajay, as well as the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) have accused Chakravarthi of humiliating Rouvan and driving him to his death. The Kolkata police is investigating those charges; on Thursday, policemen began questioning students and teachers at the school. (
Read: Rouvan's suicide: Principal, school blamed by NCPCR)
La Martiniere has expressed its "regret for the loss of a young life"; it has rejected demands to punish Chakravarthi, asserting that a warning issued to the Principal is sufficient.
Also Read: La Martiniere alumni say principal shouldn't resignInquiry needed in Rouvan suicide case, says Kapil Sibal