Surendranath Centenary School where Ayush Kumar (above) was beaten up by his physics teacher on December 11

Surendranath Centenary School, Ranchi, on Wednesday suspended one of its teachers for beating up an eighth grader on December 11.

The action against physics teacher Pulak Roy came after district superintendent of education (DSE) Akhilesh Kumar Choudhary went into a huddle with principal Samita Sinha, members of Ranchi Abhibhavak Manch, teachers and students.

Roy, who also attended the meeting, accepted his mistake in front of 13-year-old Ayush Kumar and his father Patna businessman Rajiv Ranjan. He was suspended till further notice.

Always a bright student, Ayush had apparently outwitted his teacher during a question session in the classroom six months ago. Last Tuesday, Roy had allegedly settled old scores by thrashing him in class. So grievous were the injuries that the child had to be taken to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences.

The DSE, who has initiated a probe against the teacher at the behest of the parents’ outfit, expressed his satisfaction over the school management’s decision. “The teacher had misbehaved with and scolded other students in the past too. He has been adequately punished,” Choudhary said.

According to Ajay Rai, the convener of the Manch, at least 50 cases of corporal punishment have come to light this year alone, but little was being by the state government to prevent them.

“However, for once, justice has been done. The school management here has suspended the guilty teacher and assured us that such an incident will not take place again,” he added.

Ranjan has, meanwhile, taken a transfer certificate for his son. “The principal has requested me to rethink on the matter and promised a better academic ambience for Ayush, but I haven’t decided yet,” he said.

Principal Sinha confirmed that Roy had been suspended, while Ayush’s father had been requested to allow his son to study in the school. “He is yet to agree,” she said.