Teacher suspended for casteist remarks in Tirupattur

A 40-year-old English teacher at the Panchayat Union Middle School in Kunichu village near Tirupattur was suspended for making casteist remarks in the classroom.

Education officials said Chief Education Officer (CEO), Tirupatur, S. Punniyakotti, issued the suspension order against the teacher after parents and local cadres of VCK protested against such remarks in the classroom and sought action against him.

Initial inquiry revealed that while taking class a few days ago, the teacher P. Vijay allegedly told students that members of a particular marginalised caste played a certain kind of musical instrument. The teacher also wrote the caste name in the textbook of a student, who hails from the community. Later in the day when the student returned home, he showed the textbook to his parents and narrated what happened in the classroom.

Angered by the teacher’s behaviour, parents and members of VCK protested in front of the school and demanded action against him. They also wanted the police to register a case against the teacher. Following the inquiry, the CEO issued the suspension order. Meanwhile, Kandali police also registered a case against the teacher under section 3 of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Based on orders of Tirupattur SP Sheya Gupta, special teams have been formed to nab the teacher, the police said.

Published - November 27, 2024 08:29 pm IST