Jalandhar, October 10, 2026: Serious allegations of physical punishment have surfaced against teachers at a private school in Jalandhar after the family of an eight-year-old girl claimed that she was subjected to harsh treatment merely because she came to school with one braid instead of two.
The incident has been reported from Tagore International School on Kala Sanghian Road in Jalandhar. The child is a Class 3 student. Her identity is being withheld by The Jalandhar Times because she is a minor.
According to the family, the girl went to school with her hair tied in a single braid instead of the hairstyle apparently expected under the school’s discipline rules. Her parents allege that a teacher then subjected her to physical punishment over the issue.
The child’s family has alleged that she was made to place her hands on the ground and that her hands were pressed under the teacher’s feet while she was forced to move in that position. These are allegations made by the family and have not yet been established through an official investigation.
The parents further alleged that the child was warned not to disclose the incident at home. According to the family’s account, she remained frightened after returning from school and did not initially tell her parents what had allegedly happened.
The family said the child eventually described the incident after they noticed changes in her behaviour. Her condition subsequently deteriorated and she was taken to hospital for medical attention, according to reports on the case.
Her parents have questioned why such alleged punishment was used over a hairstyle-related issue. They said that if the child had violated a school uniform or grooming rule, teachers could have informed them through the school diary or contacted the family directly.
The family has approached the police and submitted a written complaint against two teachers, seeking an investigation and appropriate legal action.
At the time of publication, The Jalandhar Times could not independently confirm that an FIR had formally been registered. The matter should therefore be treated as a complaint under investigation unless police issue a specific confirmation regarding registration of a case.
Reports also state that the family approached the school administration after learning about the alleged incident. The parents have accused the management of not adequately addressing their concerns. A detailed public response from the school to all the allegations was not available at the time of publication.
The allegations have once again raised concerns over the use of physical punishment in schools and the responsibility of educational institutions to maintain discipline without compromising the dignity or safety of children.
Under Section 17 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, children are protected from physical punishment and mental harassment, while violations can lead to disciplinary action under applicable service rules. The Union Education Ministry has also issued guidelines aimed at eliminating corporal punishment in schools.
Any determination of responsibility in the Jalandhar case will depend on the police inquiry, medical information, statements of the child and family, responses from the teachers and school management, and any CCTV or other evidence available from the campus.
The allegations are serious, but no teacher or school official should be treated as guilty unless the facts are established by the competent authorities.
The family has demanded a thorough investigation and action against anyone found responsible, while the case has put renewed focus on child safety and disciplinary practices inside private schools in Jalandhar.
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