The Supreme Court has discharged a man who was
accused of driving a student to suicide by scolding him.
The accused, in charge of a school and a hostel, had
scolded the deceased following a complaint by another student. After the
incident, the student hanged himself in a room.
A bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and
Prashant Kumar Mishra stated that no ordinary person could have imagined that a
scolding would result in such a tragedy.
The top court set aside an order of the Madras High
Court, which had refused to discharge the teacher for the offence of abetment
to suicide under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code.
"Having considered the matter in its entirety,
we find it a fit case for interference. As has rightly been submitted by the
appellant, no normal person could have imagined that a scolding, that too based
on a complaint by a student, would result in such a tragedy due to the student
so scolded taking his own life," the bench said.
The apex court said such scolding was the least to
ensure that the complaint made against the deceased by another student was
taken note of and remedial measures were effected.
"In the considered opinion of this court, under
such admitted factual position, no mens rea (knowledge of wrongdoing) can be
attributed to the appellant, much less, with regard to abatement of suicide
committed by the deceased," the bench said.
The man, through his lawyer, had submitted that his
response was justified and was merely a chiding as a guardian to ensure that
the deceased did not repeat the offence, and to maintain peace and tranquillity
in the hostel.
He had submitted that there was nothing personal
between him and the deceased.