Abstract:

The incidence of punishment and particularly corporal punishment is quite rampant in Indian schools across states. It has always been a part of schooling and there has been a general acceptance. It is only recently that this violation of child rights in schools has become part of public debate and government, media and other non governmental organizations have taken measures to stop this abominable practice. Till 2000, Delhi School Education Act sanctioned the use of this mode of punishment by the school head. The menace continues despite being declared unconstitutional. The present paper proposes to provide an overview of the extent of this problem and examine the legal framework and other relevant policies and initiatives related to the rights of children with special focus on the issue of corporal punishment in schools. The paper also proposes to present arguments against this form of punishment examining the negative impact of the same on the minds of the learners and the consequences thereof. Lastly, it will incorporate suggestions and alternative strategies to curb this wide spread malpractice.

Keywords:

Corporal, Punishment, Child Rights.