Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Jun 1: In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court discharged a school and hostel in-charge accused of abetting a student’s suicide, concluding that a simple scolding could not reasonably be seen as a provocation leading to such a tragic outcome.

A bench comprising Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Prashant Kumar Mishra overturned the Madras High Court’s refusal to discharge the teacher from the charge under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code. The case stemmed from an incident where the teacher had scolded a student following a complaint by another pupil, after which the student was found to have died by suicide.

“No ordinary person could have foreseen that a scolding would lead to such an unfortunate tragedy,” the bench observed, emphasizing that the teacher’s actions did not amount to abetment of suicide under the circumstances.

The court noted that the scolding was a reasonable step to address a legitimate complaint and maintain discipline, rather than an act with any malicious intent or knowledge that it could drive the student to end his life. “Such scolding was the least that could be expected to ensure the complaint was taken seriously and remedial measures were taken,” the judgment explained.

The court highlighted the absence of mens rea—or intent to abet suicide—on the part of the accused. “Given the undisputed facts, no mens rea can be attributed to the appellant, let alone one connected with abetting suicide,” the bench stated.

The teacher, through his lawyer, argued that his response was akin to a guardian’s rebuke intended to correct behavior and maintain order in the hostel, not a personal attack on the student. He further contended that there was no personal animosity between him and the deceased.

In setting aside the High Court’s decision, the Supreme Court underlined that a scolding, by itself, cannot be equated with driving someone to take such an extreme step.