Rouvanjit case: La Marts principal, teachers released on bail

The principal and three other teachers of Kolkata’s La Martiniere for Boys, who were arrested on Monday morning for the suicide of eighth-standard student Rouvanjit Rawla who was allegedly subjected to corporal punishment in the premier city school, were granted bail by a court later in the day.

Sunirmal Chakravarti, the principal, and three teachers ? Garnian, Partho Dutta and David Raun ? were produced in court of City Metropolitan Magistrate Ravi Ranjan Chakravarty.

They were granted bail against a personal bond of Rs 500 each.

All of them were charge-sheeted by the detective department of Kolkata Police under IPC sections 323, 324 and 352 and section 23 of the Juvenile Justice Act, which are bailable.

Kolkata Police official clarified that the charge was not abetment to suicide, as was initially reported.

Complaints were filed against the teachers by the boy’s father, Ajay Rawla.

“I have got my faith back in the justice system. I hope next time a child would not be subjected to such treatment,” said Rawla, reacting to the arrest.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has held the school responsible for the suicide of its student Rouvanjit Rawla and stated that the environment in the school was ?not suitable? for children.

The NCPCR, which conducted its own enquiry, earlier concluded that corporal punishments were a norm at the school though West Bengal had banned such punishment a couple of years back.

“We hope justice will prevail,” said Ratnabali Roy, Member, NCPCR.

Rouvanjit had hanged himself on February 12 this year and his parents have alleged that their son was driven to the extreme step after being repeatedly subjected to humiliation at the hands of the teachers at school.

The state government had assured strong steps would be taken against the school authorities carrying out corporal punishments.

Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said the government was framing new rules for the schools and would take stern action for violation of norms.

The school?s principal Sunirmal Chakravarti has confessed before Kolkata bishop Ashok Biswas ? who heads the Church of North India that runs the school ? of canning the child, earlier reports said.

He initially defended his action but under pressure from media and other organizations, he apologized for his action.