High Court awards RM30,000 to boy injured in religious class incident

The High Court has ordered compensation of RM30,000 to be paid to a boy who suffered a broken leg while attending a religious education class, following findings that a teacher was responsible for the injury.

The judge determined that the educator was liable for assault and battery in connection with the incident. In addition to holding the individual teacher accountable, the court ruled that Yayasan Islam Terengganu, the Islamic foundation operating the religious class, bore vicarious liability for its employee's conduct.

Vicarious liability establishes that an employer can be held responsible for wrongful acts committed by its employees during the course of their employment. The RM30,000 award represents compensation for the student's injuries and related damages stemming from the classroom incident.

The ruling underscores the legal responsibilities of educational institutions and their staff members to ensure the safety and wellbeing of students in their care, particularly in formal learning environments.