Molestation case: Ponda school PE teacher suspended

THE GOAN NETWORK | SEPTEMBER 12, 2023, 12:24 AM IST

PANAJI

After a dilly-dally, the school in Ponda has finally suspended its physical education (PE) teacher, who is facing charges of molesting a 14-year-old student within the school premises. However, the suspension proposal is pending approval from the Education Department, which will conduct a hearing into the matter.

Sources told The Goan that initially, the school considered transferring the PE teacher to its sister-concern school but later abandoned this idea.

The authorities thereafter suspended him and a proposal has been submitted to the Education Department for approval.

“A final decision will be made following the hearing process, as per standard procedure,” an official said. The department is expected to issue notices to both parties involved to initiate the hearing proceedings.

On Monday, the POCSO Court granted anticipatory bail to the teacher, almost a week after the school’s principal and a female teacher were granted anticipatory bail on the matter.

The prosecution had previously indicated that if the school's committee members fail to cooperate with the investigation, the police might implicate them in the case, as the student's complaint to the school was initially not addressed. 

The victim's family alleged that these actions led the victim to stop attending school, and her sister followed suit.

Subsequently, the family filed a complaint with the police, accusing the PE teacher of molestation and the school of purportedly covering up the matter. 




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