Fury as schoolgirl, 12, dies after being ‘made to do 100 sit-ups for being late’

A young girl has died nearly a week after she was allegedly made to perform 100 sit-ups as punishment for arriving late at school. The tragic case has sparked widespread outrage about discipline in the country’s schools, as well as calls for a full inquiry.

On November 8, the 12-year-old pupil, a Class 6 student at a private school in Sativali, Maharashtra, India, was reportedly asked, along with four other students, to do 100 sit-ups after being late to class. Her mother has claimed the exercise was made worse by the fact that she was carrying her school bag on her back during the punishment – a factor she believes led to her daughter’s rapid deterioration in health. A few days later, the girl was admitted to a hospital in Mumbai, where she died on the night of Friday (November 15).

Local political party members have stated that the student was known to have pre-existing health issues, but the punishment was still imposed. 

A teacher from the school said: “It is not known how many sit-ups this child had done. One really does not know if she died due to it or otherwise”.

Pandurang Galange, the Block Education Officer – an official responsible for the supervision, coordination and implementation of school-education programmes and policies – confirmed an inquiry has been opened. “The probe will reveal the exact cause of her death,” he said.

No formal police First Information Report (FIR) has been filed yet, according to local officials.

Speaking to the media, the girl’s mother said her daughter’s health deteriorated rapidly after the corporal punishment.

“After the punishment, she experienced severe pain in her neck and back, and could not get up,” she said.

She added that when she confronted the teacher about her daughter’s condition, the teacher justified the punishment, claiming it was necessary as parents otherwise complain about teaching standards despite paying fees.

“I told the teacher that punishing the students does not mean forcing them to perform sit-ups with bags on their back. The teacher gave my daughter inhuman punishment, which led to her death,” she said.

The incident has triggered public anger and renewed attention on the use of corporal or punitive discipline in Indian schools, which remains illegal but appears to continue in some institutions. In this case, campaigners have said the punishment was “inhuman” given the child’s condition and the nature of the exercise.

Parents and rights advocates are demanding stronger oversight of school discipline and greater accountability for teachers and administrators. The local party, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), has warned that the school will not be allowed to reopen until a criminal case is registered.