Cuttack, March 14: A few sit-ups, instructed by a school teacher to a student in Odisha valued a compensation worth Rupees one lakh.

The Orissa High Court on Friday imposed Rs. 1,00000 fine on the school teacher who, in order to discipline the boy, ordered some sit-up as punishment.

 However, a single bench of the Orissa High Court dismissed the charge of criminal intimidation, raised against the teacher, by the guardians.

The top court reiterated that ‘Corporal punishment’ upon a student for the purpose of disciplining him/her cannot amount to a criminal offence under Section 82 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act, 2015.

Hearing a petition, filed by the parents of a deceased boy who reportedly died after a few days to his sit-ups, Justice Sibo Sankar Mishra directed the teacher to pay a compensation of Rs 1L to the deceased’s family.

As per the background of the case, on 23 October 2019 the teacher had allegedly asked the student to perform 300 sit-ups over his disobedience. Coincidentally, the boy’s health deteriorated, leading to his death on 2 November 2019 due to Meningitis.

Consequently, the bereaved parents moved the police station alleging that the teacher’s corporal punishment was excessive and that led to their lad’s death.  

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