JAMMU: Principal Sessions Judge Reasi S.R Gandhi awarded seven years Rigorous Imprisonment and fine Rs 25,000 to a teacher namely Jarnail Singh, son of Lal Singh, resident of Shikari Tehsil Mahore District Reasi who committed the rape of eighth class student.
According to the police case that On 01-07-2010 prosecutrix (name withheld) submitted a written complaint in the Court of Judicial Magistrate 1st Class, Mahore which was forwarded to SHO Police Station Mahore in terms of section 156(3) of the CrPC, stating therein that she is minor and of the age of 13/14 years whereas the accused is a teacher in the school.
She is the student of 8th Class in Middle School Shikari. It is incident of 26th June, 2010 accused asked her to take the books from his house after the school time as the books are to be supplied to the students. She was called in the house for this by the accused who was all alone in his house.
On his calling she entered inside the room of the house of the accused. Upon this accused closed the door of the room and made her to lie down on the floor and raped her. She tried to rescue herself but the accused succeeded in the commission of the offence. Thereafter she was also threatened by the accused that in case she raised her voice then he may get her name struck off from the school. She did not disclose the incident to anybody due to shyness. She also did not attend the school for two days, her mother inquired from her. On 30-06-2010 she disclosed the incident to her mother. Her father has produced her in the court for legal action. On the basis of the aforesaid report Police registered FIR No.77/2010 u/s 376 RPC.
Principal Sessions Judge Reasi SR Gandhi after hearing Public Prosecutor MM Sharma for the state whereas Adv VK Sharma for the accused observed that Aristotle once said, “I am indebted to my father for living, but to my teacher for living well.” Teachers have been an important part of everyone’s life. A teacher has to arise above the crowd and make a lasting impression in the minds of the students inasmuch as he is a guide to his students who emulate whatever is taught to them either right or wrong. It is not only the teaching but the character of the teacher also forms part of it, as what the teacher is, is more important than what he teaches. He holds a fiduciary relationship with his students. A teacher if turns to be a molester or ravisher, the consequences and its impact on the society could be horrible. It would shake the faith of general public in such a relationship. In the recent past a number of cases of molestation on the part of the teachers have been noticed. It is a cause of concern for all of us. Such cases need to be dealt with sternly and a strong message must go to such perpetrators of crime. It is well said that good teachers are costly but bad teachers cost more. With these observations court awarded seven years rigorous imprisonment and fine Rs 25,000 and directed that 20,000 be given to prosecutrix as compensation.