Palghar: Police in Palghar district have arrested a schoolteacher following the death of a 13-year-old student who was allegedly subjected to a harsh disciplinary punishment for arriving late to class.
The incident occurred at a private school in Sativali, Vasai, where the Class 6 student was reportedly instructed to complete 100 sit-ups while carrying her schoolbag. According to the girl’s mother, the child struggled to endure the punishment and later collapsed. She was transferred to a hospital in Mumbai, where she remained under treatment for a week before succumbing to her condition.
Authorities said the student had pre-existing health concerns that may have worsened due to the strenuous punishment. Her death triggered anger among local residents, with members of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena joining protests demanding accountability.
Following the demonstrations, Waliv police registered a case and detained the teacher on Tuesday night. She has been charged under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to culpable homicide not amounting to murder. School officials have confirmed that she has been removed from her post.
Both the state education department and the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation have initiated separate inquiries to determine how the incident unfolded and whether the school failed to follow established safety and disciplinary guidelines.
The case has reignited debate over corporal punishment in educational institutions and raised concerns about the need for stronger oversight to protect students’ well-being.
