Bihar panchayat bans mobile phones in school

"Both decisions were taken by panchayat members in view of increasing cases of rape," panchayat head Sushma Singh of Matpa in Aurangabad district said.

Teachers of government-schools have been asked to strictly implement both orders, she said.

According to her, students from Class VI to XII have been banned from taking mobile phones to schools.

"The mobile phone is the cause of all evils in our society, including increasing love affairs and incidents of elopement," she said.

The panchayat has asked school girls not to wear "provocative dresses".

A local official said the panchayat orders had no legal basis.