A government school teacher in Shimla faces legal action after allegedly instructing a 10-year-old student to slap her classmates for failing to recall Sanskrit word meanings, sparking outrage over classroom discipline gone awry.

The incident, which occurred on Monday, March 24, 2025, at a girls’ school, led to a police case filed on Tuesday under Section 115(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (voluntarily causing hurt) and Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act (cruelty to children), following a complaint from the student, who also serves as class monitor.

According to the girl, the teacher quizzed the class on memorized Sanskrit terms during a Monday afternoon session. While she answered correctly, 10-12 classmates faltered, prompting the teacher to order her to slap them. The student complied but did so lightly, only to be struck by the teacher and scolded: “You are the class monitor, you don’t even know how to slap.”

The teacher then demanded harder hits, and two other girls who answered correctly were also slapped, leaving the complainant shaken.

The student reported the teacher’s dismissive attitude, quoting her as saying, “You can tell your parents whatever you want, no one can touch me.” The incident has drawn sharp criticism, highlighting concerns over corporal punishment and teacher accountability in government schools.

Police are investigating, and the case underscores broader debates about child safety and educational conduct in India, with parents and authorities now awaiting further action against the accused educator.