Puducherry: All schools in Puducherry (formerly Pondicherry) including those under private managements have been directed not to practice corporal punishment on students. The Director of School Education, G Ragesh Chandra said this in a statement here.

The move was in accordance with the Supreme Court observations in 2000 and also under the directive of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights.

As per the notification issued by the Directorate School Education, every school would have a separate forum for children to express their views.

There should also be a complaint box within the premises of each school so that children could come out openly with their grievances. There would be a provision of regular meetings between the teachers and parents to resolve any such situation.

The Directorate of School Education would keep close watch on the action taken on the basis of the complaints from the distressed children.

It is a matter of satisfaction that several states including Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, have already banned corporal punishment in their respective schools with Puducherry now joining the bandwagon.

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