In perhaps the first sentence of its kind, a Kerala teacher has been given 30-year RI for sexually abusing minor girl students in July 2007. A K Haridasan will, however, be jailed for only 16 years as the rest of the term will run concurrently.

The 39-year-old Kozhikode teacher was on Friday held guilty by the Nadapuram magistrate on three counts in six cases of sexual harassment of class IV students in the school premises. The court also imposed a Rs 20,000 fine on him and ordered that it be distributed equally among the victims.

The magistrate sentenced Haridasan to six years in the first case, five years each in the second and third cases, six years each in the fourth and fifth and two years in the sixth case. While he will have to undergo the total sentence of 16 years in the first three cases, the remaining 14 years will run concurrently.