Kochi

The Kerala High Court recently quashed a case against a teacher accused of beating a student, highlighting the fear teachers face of being charged with criminal cases. The case involved a teacher who allegedly struck a student for placing his leg on the desk. The student admitted using abusive language toward the teacher, which led to the incident.

In its ruling, the court observed that teachers are now working under constant fear of legal consequences, with the possibility of criminal charges looming over them for actions taken in the course of their duties. The court noted that some students lack respect for teachers, and actions taken by educators, even with good intentions, are sometimes misrepresented as serious offenses.

The bench referenced the myth of Drona and Ekalavya to emphasize how the teacher-student dynamic has shifted in today’s world, where respect and trust seem to have eroded. It concluded that the teacher’s actions were not meant to cause harm and dismissed the charges, acknowledging the difficult position teachers now find themselves in.