Court grants bail to teacher accused of thrashing student

Srinagar: The trial court Srinagar Friday granted interim bail to the teacher who was accused of thrashing a student at a private coaching centre here.

The Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Srinagar while granting interim bail to the accused, Fayaz Ahmad Wagay, directed him to furnish surety to the tune of Rs. 30,000 and also be bound to furnish the personal bonds of the like amount before the police station Sadder.

The CJM, Farooq Ahmad Bhat, directed the accused not to leave the territorial jurisdiction of the court without prior permission.

The accused was also directed by the court to not temper and hamper the prosecution witness or evidence available against him.

Earlier, Police had arrested the accused teacher of a private coaching centre on charges of corporal punishment after a video showing him repeatedly slapping a student went viral on social media platforms.

The accused teacher moved a bail application before the trial court.

The court after going through the application observed that the application appears to be well found and the grounds urged in the petition are qualified enough to grant bail in favour of the accused person.

It remarked that the accused person is entitled to bail as it is bound to guarantee the personal freedom of the accused.

“But the court has to keep in mind that the accused should be free in the jurisdiction of the court and will cooperate with the investigation agency as and when required for the investigation,” the court recorded.

The court also recorded that it has to be kept in mind that the accused need to be given an opportunity to meet the allegations of the prosecution, “but that will not be construed that he has every right to temper and hamper the prosecution evidence and act in a way which shall defeat the paramount measures of criminal jurisprudence.

The court observed that it is settled principle of the law that the personal freedom of the accused person is vital and he shall be believed to be innocent till guilt is proved against him.

“Certain circumstances are to be kept in mind that the accused cannot claim bail, if he is alleged to have committed an offence which carries the punishment of death sentence or imprisonment for life,” the CJM noted in the order.