Kolkata:
In Kolkata, a court has ruled that a principal and three teachers from the city's famous La Martiniere school can be charged with abetment of suicide in the case of Rouvanjit Rawla.
In February 2010, 13-year-old Rouvanjit killed himself at his home after days of alleged physical and emotional abuse by his teachers. His principal, Sunirmal Chakraborti, admitted to caning him. He said he was not aware that caning was illegal, and that he wanted to punish Rouvan for misbehaving in class.
The principal and teachers named in the case had argued that they should not be charged with abetment of suicide. They were arrested in October last year and then released on bail. Rouvan's father, Ajay, had included the charge of abetment of suicide in his police complaint. But when the police filed its chargesheet, it accused the teachers of physical assault, arguing that after examining close to 80 witnesses, it could not substantiate that Rouvan had been pushed to his death by what transpired in his school.
Ajay Rawla welcomed today's decision saying, "I think it's a strong step in the right direction. We have to make sure the witnesses are not intimidated and that we have a free and frank trial and the law takes the right course."
La Martiniere has virtually taken no action against the accused. "It is too premature to comment on these issues because we haven't yet finished the legal process, it's a long way off. We will wait and we will fight unto the last." La Martiniere School Board's Secretary Supriyo Dhar told NDTV.
The principal Sunirmal Chakraborti and three other teachers are out on bail. When the case is heard on Thursday, the court could decide whether to cancel their bail or not.