Vasai (Rajeev Sharma): A routine school morning turned tragic earlier this month after a Class 6 student from a private school in Sativali died days after being subjected to what her family describes as an “excessive and cruel” punishment for arriving late.
Police say the 13-year-old was instructed by her teacher to perform a large number of sit-ups while keeping her heavy schoolbag strapped to her back. The student reportedly struggled during the punishment and later complained of severe discomfort. She was admitted to a Mumbai hospital soon after her condition worsened and remained under medical care for a week before passing away.
Her family insists that the punishment directly contributed to her death, alleging that the teacher ignored the child’s health condition. The incident sparked widespread unrest in the locality, drawing residents and political workers from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena to stage protests demanding immediate action.
Amid mounting pressure, Waliv police registered a case and took the teacher into custody on Tuesday night. She has been charged under sections relating to culpable homicide not amounting to murder as outlined in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The school has since removed her from duty.
In response to public outrage, the district education authorities have launched a detailed inquiry. The Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation is conducting a parallel investigation to determine whether the school followed required protocols and whether negligence played a role.
The incident has once again brought disciplinary practices in schools under scrutiny, with parents and activists calling for stricter oversight to prevent such tragedies in the future.
