Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (SR)

Panaji, Aug 29: The Goa children’s court has sentenced an anganwadi helper to five days imprisonment and has fined her Rs 1 lac for burning a 2 1/2-year-old child’s cheek with a hot metal spoon. The children's court directed that the fine amount be deposited with the National Children’s Fund or State Children’s Fund. The incident occurred at an anganwadi located at Saterwadi village in April 2015. Medical examination had revealed injury in the nature of a 6cm x 2cm scald on the child’s left cheek.

Vandana Tendulkar, president of the children’s court in her verdict, said the prosecution could not secure the presence of either the victim boy, his mother or brother during the proceedings. The court stated there was no point in awarding compensation to the minor. “Thus, the only object of sentence in this case would be to create a deterrent effect and to pass a message to society not to abuse children and to protect the ‘best interest’ of children.”

The anganwadi teacher testified in court against the helper saying she saw the accused helper with the child. The teacher stated that the child was crying a lot and the mother had left after a while stating that she had urgent work. The accused was playing with the child, who then followed her into the kitchen. The teacher then heard the child screaming and administered first aid. The court held that there was no reason for the teacher to falsely implicate the accused in such an heinous charge.

The accused denied the accusations and said she is not guilty. The court observed that the accused failed to tender an explanation for the injury and since a child was involved, the burden of proof shifted to the accused if the child was in her custody at the time the offence was committed.