SURESH NARAYAN ROY Vs. STATE OF ARUNACHAL PRADESH,

JUDGEMENT

(1.) AN ugly, disgraceful, reprehensible and incongruous incident quavered the academic tranquillity of the Government Middle English School at Hari village in Arunachal Pradesh on 24.11.1975. A school is a sacred institution where education is imparted to build up moral, social and physical character of the students. School teachers are the maestroes, educators and preceptors who dispense, train, instruct and prime the young minds at their formative stage. They deserve our highest esteem and respect as they are the builders of our national character.

(2.) THE prelude could have been avoided but I could not help myself in giving vent to my impulse in view of the shocking -cum -tragic episode.

(3.) THE summary of the incident in a condensed form may be set out as follows : - P. W. 5 Jatindra Mohan Das was the Headmaster of the Government Middle English School at Hari village in Arunachal Pradesh. In that capacity he had issued an order to all the teachers informing them about the ensuing half -yearly examination and requested them to set question papers for the said examination. The accused was one of the teachers of the school serving under P. W. 5, Das. All the teachers took note of the said order (which has been proved and marked as Ext. '3') but, however, the accused appellant ignored to note it. As the accused did not sign and take note of the order, P. W. 5 J. M. Das requested the appellant to take note of the order. Instead of following the usual practice of just noting down the contents of the order the appellant made certain oblique remarks in the order book, Ext. '3' on 24 -11 -75. The Headmaster took exception and made an observation in the Order Book to that effect (vide page 51 of the paper book). P. W. 5, the Head -master, was sitting in the office -cum -common room and was engrossed in some work. The first period being over, P. W. 1 Hage Tada, P. W. 2 S. C. Kantha and P. W. 3 Bankoi Yirang arrived at the office -cum -common room where P. W. 5 J. M. Das was working. Thereafter, it is alleged by the prosecution that the appellant entered the office -cum -common room, picked up a ruler (straight stick or cylinder of wood used in ruling paper or Ikies) and dealt blows on P. W. 5 J. M. Das in presence of P. Ws. 1, 2 and 3. However, with the help of the teachers and the students, the accused -appellant was taken out of the room. J. M. Das was injured and taken away from the place. In due course an information was lodged to the Deputy Commissioner about the incident and the same was sent to the Investigation Cell, Subansiri, Zero; a case was registered under Section 325 read with Section 353 of the I. P. C. against the appellant. The first information report has been proved as Ext. '4' and it contains the names of P. W. 2 S. C. Kantha, P. W. 1 Hage Tada and P. W. 3 Bankoi Yirang as witnesses to the occurrence. The injured was examined by a doctor, who found the following injuries on the person of Shri J. M. Das: -