HC orders govt to stop corporal punishment in schools
Friday, 23 July 2010
FE Report
The High Court has ordered the government to stop corporal punishment in schools, criticising its failure to take adequate action against such inhuman acts.
The order came following an uproar by two human rights groups after a 10-year-old boy, allegedly beaten up by his teacher, committed suicide last week. Several such cases have been reported over the past year.
The court has also asked the education authorities to report within two months on measures taken to investigate and stop cases of corporal punishment.
Corporal punishment was outlawed in Bangladeshi schools in the 1990s, but beating of pupils remains widespread.
The court also has ordered the government to immediately instruct all primary and secondary schools to stop physical punishment.
Bangladesh Legal Aid Association and Services Trust (BLAST) and Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) challenged the systematic failure of the government to take action despite recurrence of the incident of corporal punishment in educational institutions by teachers, which is a gross violation of human rights.
A division bench comprising Justice Md Imman Ali and Justice Obaidul Hasan issued the rule. Sara Hossain appeared for the petitioners, with Abantee Nurul, Bulbul Rabeya Banu and Majhabeen Rabbani, Advocates. The case will be heard again on August 4, 2010.
The High Court has ordered the government to stop corporal punishment in schools, criticising its failure to take adequate action against such inhuman acts.
The order came following an uproar by two human rights groups after a 10-year-old boy, allegedly beaten up by his teacher, committed suicide last week. Several such cases have been reported over the past year.
The court has also asked the education authorities to report within two months on measures taken to investigate and stop cases of corporal punishment.
Corporal punishment was outlawed in Bangladeshi schools in the 1990s, but beating of pupils remains widespread.
The court also has ordered the government to immediately instruct all primary and secondary schools to stop physical punishment.
Bangladesh Legal Aid Association and Services Trust (BLAST) and Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) challenged the systematic failure of the government to take action despite recurrence of the incident of corporal punishment in educational institutions by teachers, which is a gross violation of human rights.
A division bench comprising Justice Md Imman Ali and Justice Obaidul Hasan issued the rule. Sara Hossain appeared for the petitioners, with Abantee Nurul, Bulbul Rabeya Banu and Majhabeen Rabbani, Advocates. The case will be heard again on August 4, 2010.