PUDUKOTTAI: A 50-year-old government school teacher was sentenced to 49 years rigorous imprisonment (RI) for sexually assaulting girl students of his school. The headmaster of the panchayat union primary school near Gandharvakottai in Pudukottai district, where the incident took place, was also sentenced to one year RI for failing to act against the erring teacher.
The incident came to light in June 2018, when a section of parents complained to the Pudukottai district elementary educational officer (DEEO), against the teacher.
In their complaint, they said that the teacher was using double entendre and inappropriate language in the class. Further, he also sexually assaulted the children.
Following this, the teacher was suspended and an inquiry ordered. The district collector had also directed a police inquiry into the allegations, while the DEEO transferred the headmaster for failing to act against the teacher.
Subsequently, the all-women police station (AWPS), Pudukottai booked the teacher and the headmaster under Pocso Act and arrested them.
Pronouncing the verdict on Monday, sessions judge of the mahila court, R Sathya found the teacher guilty of the crime under three sections of the Pocso Act and sentenced the accused to 49 years of imprisonment and imposed Rs 45,000 fine on him. The headmaster who was added as the second accused in the case was awarded 1 year rigorous imprisonment and Rs 5,000 fine.
(The victims' identity has not been revealed to protect their privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)