CHENNAI: Pinch a student ’s cheeks, and pay a fine of Rs 50,000! A woman teacher learnt this lesson the hard way in Chennai on Thursday.

Mehrunnisa, a teacher at Kesari Higher Secondary School here, was accused in 2012 of pinching her student's cheeks to punish him.

The boy’s mother took the matter to the state human rights commission. In May 2013, the commission imposed a fine of Rs 1,000 fine on the school for violation of human rights of the boy.

The boy’s mother sought a transfer certificate (TC) from the school. However, the school delayed issuing the TC.

Not satisfied with the quantum of compensation and assailing the delay in issuing the TC, the boy’s mother preferred appeals in the high court.

She had also initiated private complaint proceedings against the teacher before a magistrate court at Saidapet here.

Mehrunnisa, then moved the high court saying she was harassed by multiple proceedings before various forums simultaneously.

On Thursday, the first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M Sathyanarayanan directed the teacher to approach the judicial magistrate court, where the case was pending against her, and compound her offences by paying a compensation/fine of Rs 50,000.

