A authorities faculty headmaster in Karnataka has been suspended after he protested looking for a classroom for the 146 college students of his faculty who haven’t any selection however to check outside.
Veeranna Madivalar, Headmaster, Authorities Decrease Major Faculty, in Nidagundi village underneath Belagavi district, was not too long ago suspended by schooling authorities following his 15-kilometre silent protest march and starvation strike final Tuesday.
The award-winning educator walked barefoot to the Block Training Workplace in Raibag taluk, looking for approval for classroom development.
The dearth of a classroom has compelled youngsters to check underneath the scorching solar and monsoon rain. Regardless of three lecture rooms being permitted almost three years in the past throughout former schooling commissioner Anbukumar’s tenure, the development has not commenced.
Talking to the media, Madivalar mentioned, “I’m a authorities servant who has at all times upheld authorities dignity. I’ve acquired district-level greatest trainer awards and worldwide recognition, spending all prize cash on scholar welfare.”
“No baby ought to endure the tough solar, rain, or wind whereas studying. When repeated appeals went unheard, I punished myself by means of silent protest – not in opposition to the federal government, however for the youngsters,” he added.
The headmaster had ended his demonstration after Raibag Tahsildar Suresh Munje assured him that the matter could be taken up with greater authorities. Nevertheless, schooling officers seen his actions as misconduct, violating service guidelines.
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Within the suspension order, Basavarajappa R, Block Training Officer, Raibag, said: “As headmaster, you protested in opposition to the division, inflicting embarrassment to each the division and the federal government. No matter calls for, you must have adopted protocol by submitting respectful written requests as an alternative of publicly difficult the system.”
The BEO cited violations of Karnataka Civil Companies (Conduct) Guidelines, 2021, particularly clause 9(ii), prohibiting authorities staff from organising strikes. Officers additionally famous that media protection and social media posts in regards to the protest introduced disrepute to the division.
The suspension has sparked widespread concern amongst native communities and schooling activists, who argued that punishing an educator for advocating fundamental faculty infrastructure was a grave injustice.