In Karnal, principal held for keeping school ‘open’

Tribune News Service

Karnal, April 29

The City police on Wednesday arrested a principal allegedly for keeping the school open during lockdown at Subhash Gate in the city.

The school has also been sealed by the Education Department for violating lockdown restrictions.

The police and authorities of the Education Department found 11 students and 12 teachers there at the time of the raid.

However, the school management clarified that the school was opened to disburse the salary to the staff members and students came there to get books.

On a tip-off that SB Mission School was functional in Subhash Gate during lockdown, Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav constituted a team led by Ravinder Choudhary, District Education Officer, and sent it to the school.

The team members, along with SHO City Harjinder Singh, raided the premises and found that staff members were inside a room where books were lying. The students were studying in another room. Chairman of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) Umesh Chanana also reached there and talked with the students. “We have sent our report to the DC,” said the chairman.

“We have sealed the school for violation of norms. In the lockdown, all the education institutions have been directed not to open the premises. Online classes are being conducted by the department also. We have filed a complaint against the Principal,” said Ravinder Choudhary, DEO.

SHO Harjinder Singh said that they have arrested Principal Samata Sharma for opening the school and a case under Section 188, 269, 270 of the IPC and 51 of Disaster Management Act has been registered against her.