Source: barandbench.com
Madras High Court said that Corporal punishment amounts to abuse and militates against the freedom and dignity of a child. The statement was made while they were dealing with a case involving the death of a primary school student after he was made to "duck waddle" as punishment for coming late to school.
Justice N Anand Venkatesh observed that such punishment would also interfere with a child's right to education "because fear of corporal punishment makes children more likely to avoid school or to drop out altogether."
"Corporal punishment amounts to abuse and militates against the freedom and dignity of a child. It also interferes with a child’s right to education because fear of corporal punishment makes children more likely to avoid school or to drop out altogether," reads the order.
He also observed that he does not want to turn a Nelson’s eye to the issue, adding that the case at hand has shocked his conscience given that, "children in this country are till date being subjected to the sadistic and inhumane 'culture' of corporal punishment."
Justice Venkatesh went on to express agreement with the Delhi High Court's ruling in Parents Forum For Meaningful Education and Anr. v. Union of India and Anr, which had struck down a rule in the Delhi School Education Rules, 1973. The rule in question had granted legal sanction for corporal punishment.