The Department of Public Instructions transferred the teacher following complaints by the parents of the students, and also recommended her suspension.
Photo for representation only (Wikimedia Commons)
In an appalling incident, a government school’s Kannada teacher in Karnataka’s Shivamogga City was transferred on Saturday, 2 September, and is facing an inquiry after she allegedly asked two-three students to “go to Pakistan”.
The transferred teacher, Manjula Devi, has been teaching in the Government Urdu School in Tippu Nagar in the Shivamogga district headquarters for nine years, and has been in government service for the last 27 years.
Acting upon the preliminary report regarding the incident, Department of Public Instructions (DPI) Deputy Director CR Prameshwarappa recommended the suspension of Manjula Devi.
The teacher in question, however, denied the allegations.
After parents complained about it, the DPI immediately transferred the teacher and directed the block education officer (BEO) to conduct a detailed investigation into it.
It may be noted that a similarly horrifying incident was reported in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar district, where a video, which went viral on 25 August, showed a teacher allegedly encouraging Hindu students to slap a Muslim classmate.
Manjula Devi reportedly asked the students to “go to Pakistan as this country belongs to Hindus”. The Kannada teacher was apparently punishing two-three students of Standard 6 for their mischievous behaviour in class.
The incident took place on 30 August, according to the officials of the DPI. All the students involved in the incident were identified as Muslims.
After students narrated the incident to their parents, they rushed to the school on 31 August and complained to the headmaster and higher authorities, demanding action against the teacher.
Block Education Officer Nagaraj P told South First: “We launched an inquiry on 1 September. We inquired with the students and the teacher. The students allege that while the teacher was punishing them, they said Allah. In reply, the teacher told them ‘This is not your country; this country belongs to Hindus. You should go to Pakistan’. The parents have also mentioned this in the complaint.”
The BEO added: “The teacher denied the allegations. She said she was only punishing them for their mischievous behaviour in class and never told them to go to Pakistan.”
He noted: “She has been teaching Kannada for nine years in the same school. There has not been even a single such complaint against the teacher throughout her 27-year-long service. I was shocked to hear these allegations against the teacher. I have submitted a preliminary report regarding the matter.”
DPI Deputy Director CR Prameshwarappa, who recommended the suspension of the teacher on Saturday, told South First: “As soon as the complaint was received, we initiated action against the teacher by transferring her and also ordering a detailed inquiry. BEO Nagaraj P launched the investigation and submitted a preliminary report.”
He added: “Based on the preliminary findings, I recommended the suspension of the teacher. I have also brought this to the notice of the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police and also sought their direction on the matter.”
Noting that Manjula Devi had denied the allegations, he also said: ”We have inquired the headmaster and other teachers of the same school about the incident. We did not find any evidence against the teacher. However, considering the complaint and statements of the students, I have recommended the suspension of the teacher.”
He also confirmed that no police complaint had been registered on the matter.
When South First tried to contact Majula Devi over the phone, she was out of reach.
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