11 govt teachers found coming to school drunk in Madhya Pradesh

Bhopal: At least 11 government school teachers in Madhya Pradesh’s Dindori district are found to be coming to the school regularly in an ‘inebriated condition’, The Indian Express reported citing a report by the district tribal affairs department.

It is reported that a departmental inquiry has been initiated against the teachers alongside serving notices to nine other teachers who had been absent for long periods, according to the report.

Santosh Shukla, the Assistant Commissioner Tribal Affairs Department District (Dindori), told the outlet that he called a meeting of block education officers and directed officials to probe allegations of teachers attending classes having drunk and those frequently absent in the school in the tribal dominated district.

‘There are around 11-12 teachers who have been accused of consuming alcohol and attending classes. We have initiated a departmental inquiry against them. They will have to explain their conduct. However, they have not been suspended yet. Whether they actually consumed alcohol will only be made clear through a medical report,’ Shukla was quoted as saying.

Shukla added that “Furthermore, nine teachers who remained absent for a long period of time, some of them for years, have also been served notices. They probably took other jobs and failed to inform the department. They were not receiving any salary during the period they were absent.”

Alongside, Shukla reported that investigations will be initiated against seven teachers for violating service rules by having two wives.

“We are investigating these claims. Some of these cases are in court as well,” Shukla was quoted as saying.

Shukla added that similar probe would be conducted in all development blocks to improve the district’s government schools.