Haryana: Principal suspended after students protest for Sonam Wangchuk
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New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Haryana government has suspended the principal of a government school in Mahendragarh district after 15 girl students staged a protest in support of climate activist and innovator Sonam Wangchuk.
The action against Naresh Kaushik, principal of Government Senior Secondary School, Kanina Mandi, was taken after photographs and videos of the students' demonstration surfaced on social media, reported The Tribune.
The incident took place on July 17, while the suspension order was issued on Tuesday (July 21) under Rule 5 of the Haryana Civil Services (Punishment and Appeal) Rules, 2016. The action followed the constitution of a committee headed by the local Block Education Officer (BEO) to conduct a fact-finding inquiry into the matter.
According to BEO Kanina Suresh Kumar, the committee conducted the fact-finding inquiry and recorded the statements of the school principal, teachers, students and their parents before submitting its report.
"The protest demonstration took place outside the school premises, though the students were wearing school uniform. It is the responsibility of the school staff as well as parents of students to ensure that the students reach home safely after the school is over," Kumar told The Tribune.
Kaushik, the suspended principal, said he had no knowledge of the protest as it took place after school hours.
Meanwhile, several social organisations and residents of Kanina Mandi have called for Kaushik's reinstatement, citing his responsible discharge of duties and maintaining that he was not involved in any objectionable activity.