By the Court.—A ‘Guru not only creates knowledge, learning and wisdom but he has also the obligation to build the character of his disciples and to attend to their moral and social growth. The role of a teacher is akin to that of a ‘Guru or ‘Acharya. He has to set an example of exemplary conduct and in view of the peculiar position he holds in the society, a teacher is placed on a pedestal just below the parents, if not on the same pedestal. It is, therefore, the duty of the teacher to take such care of his pupils as a careful parent would take of his children. Quite ironically, we have before us in this petition a teacher whose services as a Trained Graduate Teacher in the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan have been terminated as he was found guilty of moral turpitude involving exhibition of sexual behaviour towards the girl students of the School.

2. A complaint was made by three girl students of Class VIII of Kendriya Vidyalaya, NTPC, Shaktinagar to the Principal mentioning therein that on 6th May, 2000 after the classes were over, they were asked by the petitioner to stay back on the pretext that they had to write in their diary and while they began to record their impression