Corporal Punishment in Schools

                 The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has registered 27,50 and 31 cases of corporal punishment in school during 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 (till date) respectively and has also taken suo-moto cognizance of 10 such incidents since January, 2009.

         This Ministry has issued instructions to all States and Union Territories in December, 20067 to prohibit corporal punishment in all schools under their jurisdiction. Section 17 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 prohibits physical punishment and mental harassment to children in school.

          This information was given by the Minister of State for Human Resource Development Smt. D. Purandeswari, in a written reply to a question, in the Rajya Sabha yesterday.