Karachi: The Sindh government has banned corporal punishment against students at religious seminaries.
The decision was reached in the latest meeting of the Sindh cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah. The meeting took into consideration the draft rules pertaining to the Sindh Prohibition of Corporal Punishment Act-2016. The Sindh government’s Department of School Education presented the rules in the cabinet meeting.
The law envisages that handing down physical punishments to the students in any educational institution of the province becomes a criminal offence against which police could lodge a case.
The rules passed by the Sindh cabinet declare that any act causing physical, mental, and emotional harm to the students would become a criminal offence. The rules further declare that the sexual exploitation of students will also be a punishable act in the province.
The rule says that a child protection committee will be constituted in this regard at every educational institution. The committee will comprise of the head of the educational institution, a representative each of the administration, and concerned parents. The committee will duly assess each complaint related to corporal punishment and physical or emotional exploitation of the students.
Further action
The committee will recommend to the police and district coordination committee the case of corporal punishment for further lawful action against the perpetrators.
An online system will also be developed to lodge the complaints against the acts of physical punishment. The existing Child Protection Helpline 1121 in the province will also be used for the purpose.
The law declares that anyone perpetrating, abetting, or directing an act of corporal punishment or exploitation against the students will have to face the criminal proceedings.
