Slapping of Muslim child: SC asks UP to find a sponsor to cover student's education

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to find a sponsor to cover the education expenses of a Muslim child who was slapped by his classmates allegedly at their teacher's behest.

A bench comprising justices Abhay Oka and Augustine George Masih directed the UP government to ensure that the child continues to study in the same school. "Child's education expenses should be taken care of till the end of his schooling," the bench told the state government.

At one of the previous hearings, the court had disapproved of the way a Muzaffarnagar school teacher allegedly spurred students into slapping the boy as punishment and made a communal remark. The alleged incident was reported in August last year. The court last September raised "serious objections" to the manner in which the probe was being dealt with by the UP Police. It had previously ordered the UP government to nominate a senior IPS officer to head the probe into the case. SC had also pointed out the "omissions" in the FIR registered by the UP Police.


In last October, the UP government informed SC that the accused Muzaffarnagar school teacher may face charges under Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code. This section deals with deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs.