Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 30: Principal Sessions Judge Reasi S R Gandhi today awarded seven years rigorous imprisonment to a teacher namely Jarnail Singh, son of Lal Singh of Mahore for committing rape with 8th class student.
According to the police case, on June 20, 2010 the accused committed rape with the prosecutrix by calling her to his residence on the pretext of collecting some books. After committing the heinous crime, the accused threatened the girl against disclosing the incident to anyone.
Because of threat extended by the teacher, the girl initially neither disclosed the incident to anyone nor attended the school. However, after some days she narrated the entire incident to her mother and accordingly a case was registered against the teacher.
After hearing Public Prosecutor MM Sharma for the State whereas Advocate V K Sharma for the accused, Principal Sessions Judge observed, “Greek philosopher Aristotle once said: I am indebted to my father for living, but to my teacher for living well”, adding “teachers have been an important part of everyone’s life. The role of the teacher in making each one of us a better person cannot be denied. Anyone can become a teacher, but it takes a special person to be a great teacher”.
“A teacher has to arise above the crowd and make a lasting impression in the minds of the students in as much as he is a guide to his students who emulate whatever is taught to them either right or wrong. It is not only the teaching but the character of the teacher also forms part of it, as what the teacher is, is more important than what he teaches”, the court said, adding “in the recent past a number of cases of molestation on the part of the teachers have been noticed. It is a cause of concern for all of us. Such cases need to be dealt with sternly and a strong message must go to such perpetrators of crime”.
“It is well said that good teachers are costly but bad teachers cost more”, the court further observed.
With these observations, court awarded seven years rigorous imprisonment to the teacher and imposed fine of Rs 25000 to be given to the prosecutrix as compensation.
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