LI Network
Published on: February 5, 2024 at 14:25 IST
The Karnataka High Court has dismissed a case of abetment to suicide against a school principal and teacher, filed after two students took their own lives and left a suicide note blaming the school officials for their actions.
Justice G Basavaraja, on a single-judge bench, granted the petitioners’ plea and acquitted them of the charges under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code.
The Court emphasized the need for a balanced approach to discipline, stating that effective discipline requires a combination of punishment and positive reinforcement.
The Court noted that teachers often reprimand students for various reasons, such as lack of attentiveness or poor academic performance.
In this case, the accused individuals had provided special coaching classes to the deceased students to improve their academic performance and safeguard their future educational interests.
The prosecution argued that the accused had frequently mistreated the students, leading to their loss of tolerance and eventual suicide. However, the court found that the prosecution’s case lacked sufficient evidence to establish a connection between the alleged mistreatment and the students’ suicides.
Referring to the suicide note, the Court concluded that the document did not disclose the nature of the harassment or indicate how the accused individuals were responsible for the students’ deaths.
The Court held that the prosecution failed to establish intentional aid or abetment under Section 306 of the IPC.
The Court emphasized that mere allegations of harassment would not be sufficient unless there were specific allegations linking the accused to actions that compelled the victims to commit suicide. In this case, the court found no prima facie case to suggest that the accused instigated or abetted the students’ suicides.
Case Title: ABC & ANR AND State of Karnataka