HC asks govt for details on steps against corporal punishment

NEW DELHI, March 3: The Delhi High Court has asked the Delhi government for details on the steps it is taking to implement the Centre8217;s guidelines against corporal punishment in schools. The division bench comprising justices D.K. Jain and K.S. Gupta asked the state government to file details in this regard within two weeks. The court was hearing a PIL by the Parents Forum for Meaningful Education PFME demanding the abolition of corporal punishment in schools.

Seeking a direction to the Delhi government to amend section 37 of the Delhi Education Rules, which indirectly allows punishment saying students need to be disciplined, the forum referred to the Centre8217;s National Education Policy of 1986 that had recommended its abolition. The government had argued that the section was in the interest of the students. The case will come up again for further hearing on April 9.