Question : Punishment of Children in Schools

(a) whether the incidents of physical punishment to the children in schools are rising
constantly in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the action taken/likely to be taken by the Government for
putting an end to physical punishment to school children;
(c) the number of such cases which came to the notice of the Government during the last
three years and the current year including the details of the action taken thereon;
(d) the details of the targets fixed for eliminating corporal punishment and achievements
made during the above said period; and
(e) whether the Government is satisfied with achieved targets and if not, the reasons
therefor and the action taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)
(a) to (e) : Right of children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, prohibits
‘physical punishment’ and ‘mental harassment’ under Section 17(1) and makes it a
punishable offence under Section 17(2). The National Commission for Protection of child
Rights (NCPCR) and the State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCRs) have
been entrusted with the task of monitoring children’s right to education under Section 31
of the RTE Act, 2009. The State Governments under their RTE Rules have also notified
Block/District level grievance redressal agencies under the RTE Act. This Ministry has also
issued Guidelines/Advisory dated 26.03.2014 under Section 35(1) of the RTE Act, 2009 to
all the States and Union Territories for elimination of Corporal Punishment in Schools. The
Affiliation Byelaws of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) empower the
School Managing Committee to place an employee under suspension if charged with
cruelty with any student or employee of the school. CBSE has also issued guidelines to
schools for ensuring an atmosphere free from fear in each affiliated school. Since
majority of the schools are within the purview of the State Governments, no centralized
data on corporal punishment is maintained by this Ministry.