Vishal Rana, Hamirpur

A local court today handed down a five-year rigorous imprisonment sentence to a school teacher convicted under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for sexually assaulting a minor student. Special Judge Bhuvnesh Awasthi pronounced the verdict, which also included substantial fines and additional prison terms under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The case stemmed from a December 30, 2021 incident where the accused, who taught at the victim’s school, allegedly molested the girl while she was traveling in his car to school. After a meticulous trial during which the prosecution examined 14 witnesses, the court found the educator guilty on multiple charges.

The comprehensive sentence includes five years of rigorous imprisonment plus a ₹20,000 fine under POCSO Section 10, with an additional three months’ simple imprisonment if the fine remains unpaid. The court also imposed six months imprisonment and ₹5,000 fine under IPC Section 354 read with SC/ST Act provisions, six months imprisonment with ₹2,000 fine for criminal intimidation, and one year imprisonment plus ₹5,000 fine under specific sections of the SC/ST Act.

District Attorney Sandeep Agnihotri, who led the prosecution, described the judgment as “a robust affirmation of our legal system’s commitment to protecting vulnerable sections of society.” The verdict underscores the judiciary’s stern approach to crimes involving child sexual abuse and caste-based discrimination, particularly when committed by individuals in positions of trust and authority. Legal experts suggest this ruling may set an important precedent for similar cases involving institutional predators.