A school principal in Mumbai has been terminated following a report published on Parveen Shaikh, who had been serving at the Somaiya School managed by Somaiya Vidyavihar for over 12 years, on a web portal said to be run by a Hindu right-wing group. The report alleged she was sympathizing with Hamas amid the ongoing Israel war on Gaza.
The web portal OpIndia had published an article on her alleged pro-Hamas posts on social media, following which the school management sought resignation from Parveen, who resisted it, invoking her freedom of expression in a democratic country, The Indian Express reported.
A statement released by the school management on her termination from the school said that Parveen’s personal social media actions misaligned with the school's cherished values as the reason for her termination.
The management emphasized the importance of exercising freedom of expression responsibly and respecting others' viewpoints. Concerns were also raised about the impact of Shaikh's online behaviour on the school's ethos of unity and inclusivity, prompting decisive action.
Following the publication of the report on April 24, the school management summoned Shaikh for a meeting on April 26, requesting her resignation. Shaikh, however, defended her freedom of speech within a democracy and refused to resign, asserting her dedication to the organization.
Despite Shaikh's refusal to step down, the management proceeded with seeking a written explanation, which she provided on May 4. Nevertheless, the termination notice was issued on May 8, catching Shaikh by surprise as she learned about it via social media before receiving official communication from the management.
Expressing her disappointment, Shaikh, who had served the Somaiya School for 12 years and held the position of principal for seven years, denounced her termination as illegal and based on defamatory lies. She emphasized her exceptional contributions to the school's growth and lamented the management's failure to support her amidst the public vilification campaign.
Shaikh hinted at the possibility of legal recourse, stating her faith in the Indian legal system and the constitution. She maintained that the termination appeared to be politically motivated and affirmed her commitment to exploring all available legal options.