Mumbai School Teacher Sentenced to Five Years for Sexually Assaulting Minor Students

A special court in Mumbai has sentenced a 28-year-old school teacher to five years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting minor girl students. The teacher, who was employed at a school in suburban Govandi, was found guilty under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The court emphasized that a teacher is expected to act as a protector, and the accused’s actions have caused a lifelong psychological and emotional impact on the victims.

The heinous acts were committed against three students, all aged below 12, who were in his class. The mother of one of the victims filed a police complaint in September 2019, leading to the registration of a case against the teacher. According to the complaint, the victims, all students of standard fifth, accused the teacher of frequently touching them inappropriately. The court found no reason to disbelieve the testimony of the victims, which was corroborated by other witnesses.

Judge Seema Jadhav, while delivering the verdict, stated that the minimum punishment under the relevant provisions of the POCSO Act would meet the ends of justice. The court also noted that the teacher had no previous criminal history. The accused’s defense of false implication by another teacher was dismissed by the court due to a lack of credible evidence. The conviction underscores the seriousness of offenses under the POCSO Act and the judiciary’s commitment to protecting children from sexual abuse.

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