Corporal punishment: K''taka warns education dept officials

Bangalore, Jan 27 (PTI) The Karnataka Government todayissued a stern warning to education department officials toensure that students are not subjected to corporal punishmentand sexual harassment.

The directive comes in the wake of a boy''s death, whoallegedly became victim of corporal punishment, at a privateschool in Honnavar in Uttara Kannada district recently.

Minister for Primary and Secondary EducationVishweshara Hegde Kageri told PTI that he has asked the DeputyDirectors of Public Instruction (DDPIs) and Block EducationOfficers (BEOs) to monitor schools to check these incidents.

"There are several circulars issued in this regard.

But the officials hardly oversee the implementation. Now thegovernment has decided to make DDPIs and BEOs also responsiblefor lapses on such issues", Kageri said.

Afzal Pasha (8), who was reportedly ordered to runaround the school ground for turning up late, collapsed anddied, evoking protests from locals. His teacher Ganesh wasarrested and suspended in this regard. The Head Master andPresident of the School were also arrested. They have beenreleased on bail.