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Supreme Court quashes case against teacher for corporal punishment under POCSO Act
The case concerns a teacher accused of sexual assault under the POCSO Act for physically punishing students, and the Supreme Court determined whether such corporal punishment constitutes an offence under the Act.
Who it concerns: Petitioner: Bhaskar Paul (Teacher); Respondent: The State of West Bengal; Bench: Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice Atul S. Chandurkar.
What the court decided
- The order of the High Court dated 27.04.2026 is set aside.
- The entire proceedings of Special Case No.83 of 2025 arising out of FIR No.187/2025 are quashed.
- The Criminal Appeal is allowed.
- The appellant is set at liberty.
Also in the document
- The Court held that corporal punishment and lack of sensitivity by the teacher do not attract Section 10 of the POCSO Act.
- The Court noted that the statements of the victim girls did not suggest an act of sexual assault as defined in the POCSO Act.
- The Court observed that continuing the prosecution would be an abuse of the process of law and cause extreme prejudice to the appellant.
- The Court noted the delay in lodging the First Information Report (FIR) and that the statements of the Headmaster and lady teachers were hearsay evidence.
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The original document
Supreme Court of India — orders & judgments
Court order · 11 Sep 2026
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