Teacher held for marrying 14-year old student

Accused arrested based on anonymous letter received by Superintendent of Police

A teacher of a government high school at Chinnampalli village in Pennagaram taluk was arrested on Friday for marrying a 14-year-old girl student of class ten in the same school in November last.

Based on an anonymous letter received by Superintendent of Police Asra Garg, the police arrested N. Arumugam (37) of Mulluvadi village. His wife is the Headmistress of a government panchayat union primary school in the district.

The police said the teacher admitted to have married the girl at her house in Arakasanaalli village on November 15 in the presence of her grandmother.

The girl stopped coming to the school from November 8, one week before the marriage, and also obtained Transfer Certificate after her wedding with the teacher.

Meanwhile, the teacher was transferred to H. Pudupatti Government Higher Secondary School by the School Education Department after a preliminary inquiry.

Chief Educational Officer K.P. Maheshwari told

The Hindu that the inquiry report had been submitted to the police. She also said that Collector K. Vivekanandan ordered that the teacher be placed under suspension immediately.

A case has been registered against the teacher under Sections 9 and 10 of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act. The teacher was produced before the Pennagaram Judicial Magistrate, who remanded him in judicial custody.