Gandhinagar: A local court here has sentenced a schoolteacher to three years and three months in jail for slapping a Class 9 student over incomplete homework, causing a rupture in her left eardrum. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 and directed that the amount be paid to the girl as compensation.

The incident occurred on January 1, 2020, at a private school in Gandhinagar, when the teacher allegedly struck the student three times on her left ear after becoming angry. The girl’s father later filed an FIR at Sector 21 Police Station under the IPC and the Juvenile Justice Act. During the trial, the court examined 10 witnesses.

While convicting the teacher, the court rejected her arguments regarding delay in filing the complaint, lack of supporting independent witnesses, and absence of electronic or documentary proof. The teacher also claimed the complaint was filed in retaliation after she raised concerns about the girl’s behaviour.

Her lawyer sought leniency, citing that she was suffering from cancer, but the court noted no medical documents were produced. The magistrate observed that the offence involved abuse of authority, serious injury to a minor, and long-term medical consequences, outweighing any mitigating factors. Prosecutors said the girl is still undergoing treatment. DeshGujarat