PANJIM: The Children’s Court has allowed a convicted teacher’s plea seeking suspension of one year jail term in a criminal case of physical and psychological abuse on a child.

The teacher, sentenced to one year simple imprisonment for the offence, had submitted the application to contest the juvenile court’s order in the High Court of Bombay at Goa. 

“Lawyer for the accused applied for suspension of sentence (in the Children’s Court) to appeal in the High Court,” Advocate Rohan Desai, who assisted public prosecutor N Marathe during the trial told Herald.  

Sources said that 30 days have been given to the accused to file an appeal in the higher court. A senior police officer said that the teacher has not yet surrendered. 

In an order pronounced on January 31, Children’s Court President Vandana Tendulkar sentenced the teacher to one year in jail and slapped a fine of Rs 1 lakh for ‘physically and psychologically abusing’ a two and half year old pre-schooler in 2012. According to the indictment, the teacher subjected the boy to corporal punishment by slapping him on his face and hands, twisting his ears and pinching on his legs.

“When a crime is committed, it is not only against the individual victim but also against the society. Specifically, when the crime is against a ‘child’... The act of the accused is sufficient to create a scar in his mind for the lifetime,” states the order. 

Pronouncing the order, the President also observed that teaching being a noble profession the teacher has breached the trust of the child in her care, as well as that of his parents.