Twin blows: Primary teacher suspended, faces probe

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 29

The headmistress of a primary school, Uttara Bahaguna, was on Friday delivered twin blows by the Department of School Education, which not only issued suspension orders to her for breaking discipline but has also set up an inquiry against the teacher for her alleged prolonged absenteeism.

The headmistress, who had created a ruckus and abused the Chief Minister after he failed to heed to her request for a transfer, had it coming as Chief Minister TS Rawat had threatened to suspend her during the Janata Durbar. 

“She has been suspended on the grounds that she broke the discipline and did not seek prior permission for attending the Janata Durbar from the higher authorities,” said Bhupinder Kaur Aulakh, Secretary, Department of School Education, while addressing media persons here.

Aulakh further said that Uttara, who is posted at a primary school in Jaishthvari (Naugaon block) in Uttarkashi, misbehaved at the Janata Durbar and also, “broke the decorum desirous of a teacher as laid down in the employees manual,” she said.       

Along with issuing suspension orders, a primary inquiry has also been set up against the teacher for her prolonged absence from the school. “It has come to light that the teacher has been continuously absent since August 2017. She did not communicate to the authorities about her absence. The department has set up an inquiry under block education officer. During the inquiry, whose time frame is 21 days, the teacher would be asked to explain. She would be given a fair and unbiased hearing,” said Aulakh.

Further Aulakh emphasised that Bahuguna was issued suspension orders in November 2008 and July 2011 for failing to fulfill her duties.

When asked, if Bahuguna’s application seeking transfer to Dehradun would be dealt fairly, Aulakh said the department would proceed according to the provisions of the Transfer Act taking into consideration her family problems. “Uttara Bahuguna belongs to the district (Uttarkashi) cadre and hence her transfer can only take place in Uttarkashi,” added Aulakh.

As a fallout of the incident, the school education department maintained that several teachers who had also been absent for a prolonged period too been sent back to their cadres. 

‘CM’s wife transfered after four years’

• An RTI query by a news channel has revealed that Sunita Rawat (CM’s wife), also a teacher, was transfered from a tough region within four years and has been working in Dehradun ever since. 
• She started working at a primary school in Paudi Gadhwal in 1992. She was transferred to Dehradun in 1996, and since then never been transferred.