La Martiniere yet to appoint counsellor for students: Lawyer

La Martiniere for Boys, the school in the eye of a storm following the suicide of a student after he was caned by the principal, does not have a counsellor as laid down in NCPCR guidelines, a lawyer directed by Calcutta High Court to ascertain whether the standards on corporal punishment are being adhered to said today.

"The school authorities told me that they have not so far appointed any counsellor, which is in the guidelines," said Tapas Bhanja after visiting La Martiniere.

"I was directed by the High Court on June 11 to visit schools to find out whether the government guidelines on corporal punishment were being implemented or not," Bhanja, who has moved a PIL in the high court over corporal punishment in schools, said.

"I also did not find any complaint box in the school premises in accordance with the guidelines," he said.

Rouvanjit Rawla, a Class VIII was caned by principal Sunirmal Chakraborti in February for misdemeanour. Rawla committed suicide four days later on Febuary 12, with his father filing a police complaint this month.