Viral video: Dept reinstates suspended Head Teacher

Nikhil Bhardwaj

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Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 8

Bowing to pressure from the various teachers’ unions in the case of suspension of Charanjit Kaur, Head Teacher of Government Elementary School, Sri Chand Colony, Mundian Kalan, the Education Department today announced her reinstatement. Another teacher, Savita, who was transferred by the department to a school in Machhiwara, has also been shifted back to the Mundian school.

The Tribune had highlighted the case in its columns as action against both teachers was taken without conducting any inquiry.

Notably, the teachers had faced action after a video of two students of fifth standard carrying garbage went viral. The DEO (Elementary), Jaspreet Kaur, had immediately ordered suspension of Charanjit and transfer of another teacher taking cognisance of the video.

The orders of District Education Officer, Elementary, state that three days after taking disciplinary action against the teachers, the decision has been reverted and both teachers have been directed to join their duty at the school in Mundian Kalan.

The Sanjha Adhiyapak Morcha, Punjab, which comprises 13 unions of government school teachers, yesterday threatened to lay a siege of the office of DEO (Elementary) on January 9.

Ramanjit Sandhu, from the Democratic Teachers Union, and Sukhdhir Singh Sekhon, from the Government Schools Teachers Union, said it was due to the pressure of teachers’ unions that the DEO (Elementary) had to take her decision back. “The decision was taken in haste by the DEO, merely on the basis of footage showing students carrying garbage, without conducting any inquiry. We are thankful to the Education Department for paying heed to the demands of the teachers’ unions,” they added.

Kuldeep Saini, Deputy DEO (Elementary), confirmed to The Tribune that the teacher had been reinstated with immediate effect today. “Since the teacher had told the students to dump garbage a kilometer away from the school, she faced suspension. Now, the department has taken back its decision and warned the teacher not to indulge in such practice in the future, and students can continue to clean their schools as a part of the Swachh campaign,” Saini added.

‘Provide sweepers to schools’

The Elementary Teachers Unions has submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner Pardeep Agrawal and demanded to bring all government schools under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and to provide sweepers from the Municipal Corporation. “The issue of elementary government school in Mundian Kalan had cropped up because students were captured by some stranger while they were lifting garbage, which also led to the suspension of a teacher. Students were lifting garbage because the school was not provided with any sweeper or a peon by government. Since the MC is also involved in the Swachh campaign, the government should allot schools to the MC ward wise, so students could study in a congenial environment,” said Sukhdhir Singh Sekhon, state president of the Elementary Teachers Union (Sekhon).