The State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) has taken cognisance of media reports about a Class VI student of St Francis School in Ranchi being subjected to corporal punishment and decided to probe the matter even as the institution claimed to have orchestrated truce between the aggrieved party and the accused teacher.

Commission chairperson Arti Kujur said a two-member team would visit the campus in Samlong, 6km from the capital, on Saturday to investigate if 11-year-old Mayank Sharma was asked to do 250 sit-ups by his class teacher Joy C. Lakra (not Joy Kumar as reported) earlier this week.

"Member of SCPCR Manoj Kumar and I will visit the school tomorrow and probe the alleged incident," Kujur told this newspaper on Friday.

Kumar said: "We have come to know about a case of corporal punishment through newspapers. We have taken cognisance and will begin a probe. Since the matter involves a minor student, we cannot ignore it. It is our duty to ensure fearless atmosphere for children everywhere, including school."

While the child rights commission has decided to act, St Francis called Mayank's father Vijay Kumar Sharma for an unscheduled meeting this noon.

School manager Brother Jose said he had arranged a meeting between Sharma and the teacher concerned after probing the matter at his level. "The teacher sought an apology and the father of the boy forgave him. The child is a good student. He is expected to come to school from tomorrow (Saturday)," the official said.

Asked how corporal punishment could be taken so lightly, Brother Jose insisted that Mayank had misinformed his parents about the number of sit-ups he was asked to do on Tuesday. "Also, the punishment was given because the boy had not done his homework and not because he was caught talking, as has been reported in a section of the media."

If Mayank wasn't made to do 250 sit-ups as he told his parents, what exactly was the quantum of punishment? "The number was not 250 that is all I shall say. In our school, only reasonable punishment is given to discipline students. The chapter is closed. I do not think any further discussion in the matter will help improve anything," Brother Jose said.

St Francis principal Sister Angelin was more polite. She apologised for not being able to receive calls on Thursday and said she had asked the school manager to mediate.

Mayank's father told this correspondent that the class teacher had realised his mistake and hence, they had decided not to legally pursue the matter. "It is in the best interest of my son. Mayank is better now. His pain is subsiding. He will attend his classes from tomorrow (Saturday)," Sharma said.

However, sources close to the family maintained that the father had compromised under pressure.

"Changing an ICSE school is not an easy task amid admission rush everywhere. So, when the school manager assured him (Sharma) that the incident would not be repeated, he decided to accept the teacher's apology," a family source said, adding, "Had law enforcement agencies in our state been more proactive and efficient in protecting the rights of children, it may have helped to seek legal recourse.

Do you know of any case of corporal punishment being hushed up in the state? Tell ttkhand@abpmail.com