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A Mumbai court has sentenced a retired principal and a teacher to five years in prison for sexually abusing minor students at a school for children with speech and hearing impairments, highlighting the betrayal of trust and vulnerability of disabled children.
Abuse targeted minor students with speech and hearing impairments.
Mumbai: A special POCSO court in Mumbai has sentenced two retired educators, including a former principal, to five years’ imprisonment for sexually abusing minor students at a school for children with speech and hearing impairments. The conviction comes after extensive investigation and trial, underscoring the severity of the crimes committed against vulnerable students.
The case began with a complaint from a 13-year-old girl who is deaf and mute by birth and had been studying at the school since 2006. According to prosecution claims, the former principal would call girl students to his office and sexually harass them by hugging and kissing them on the cheeks. Another teacher reportedly showed the girls obscene images from newspapers and touched them inappropriately.
The court highlighted that parents initially condoned the misconduct to avoid disturbing the school environment or hindering their children’s education. The judge noted that minor complaints are often overlooked, and children with disabilities face additional challenges when approaching authorities. This contributed to delays in reporting the abuse.
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During the trial, some key witnesses, including the primary informant, turned hostile. The court observed that the witness had been influenced by the accused before testifying, resulting in puppet-like admissions. Despite this, the court relied on other strong evidence to establish the guilt of the teachers. Some witnesses even attempted to withdraw their statements, demonstrating the influence and power wielded by the accused.
The court emphasised that the teachers exploited their position of trust and the students’ physical disabilities to commit sexual assault. The accused failed to present any credible defence, and the evidence was sufficient to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The ruling highlighted the gravity of abusing children entrusted to educators for care and guidance.
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The court noted that schools are institutions where children place immense trust in their teachers. Betrayal by figures of authority can cause lifelong trauma. For physically challenged students with limited support systems, approaching law enforcement was particularly challenging, making their courage in filing complaints even more significant.
