The tragic death of six-year-old Pranay Teja in Visakhapatnam, who collapsed after being slapped by a teacher for incomplete homework, has reignited intense debate over corporal punishment in India. Despite the practice being outlawed nationwide under the 2009 Right to Education (RTE) Act and the Juvenile Justice Act of 2015, physical violence remains a pervasive method of discipline in classrooms across the country.
Legal and social experts point to significant implementation failures as the primary reason for the persistent abuse. While federal laws strictly prohibit physical and mental harassment, they lack strong standalone criminal penalties for violations, leaving cases to be processed under general criminal statutes as minor incidents or “routine discipline.” Furthermore, school management frequently pressures low-income families to settle grievances privately, while judicial precedents have occasionally excused physical discipline under the guise of parental consent or maintaining order.
Historical and sociological factors further entrench the practice, particularly within underprivileged communities. Scholars note that while British colonial rule institutionalized state-sanctioned caning and flogging, physical discipline in India also shares historical ties to long-standing caste hierarchies. Studies consistently show that children from marginalized Dalit and minority backgrounds face disproportionately severe physical abuse and discrimination in classrooms, highlighting a critical gap between legal protections and ground-level classroom realities.
