An inquiry submitted by the District Education Officer (DEO), Hisar, into the incident of ‘squat punishment’ given to girl students at a government school in Jagan village of Agroha block has revealed that while a teacher ordered the punishment, another recorded the video.
The video had gone viral, after which the Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC) took cognisance of the incident. Initially, allegations pertained to forcing the girls to squat and parade through the school premises.
The inquiry report, dated April 30, was submitted before the HHRC. During a recent hearing in the case, the Commission expressed displeasure with the inquiry report because no action had been taken against the erring teachers.
On perusal of the inquiry report, the HHRC observed, “As per the said report, although the majority of the students did not consider the ‘act’ in question as punishment and the educational record (examination results) of Ms. Santosh Kumari (TGT Teacher) is also good, however, the occurrence of such an issue involving children within the school premises is wrong. Any such activity/game/punishment conducted by any teacher in the school is absolutely wrong. Neither is such a game played in any school, nor is it made to be played.”
It added, “During the inquiry, it has been prima facie established that the teacher made the girl students perform the squat punishment, which amounts to a clear violation of departmental rules by the said teacher.”
The inquiry also found that another teacher, Pooja, a TGT Maths teacher, had recorded the video. Students of Classes 7, 9 and 10 confirmed during the inquiry that Pooja shot the video and frequently used her mobile phone during school hours.
“It is clear that Pooja, while avoiding teaching work illegally, made a video within the school premises. The video made by her went viral, due to which the dignity of the students, the educational institution (Government Senior Secondary School Jagan), and further the image of the Education Department was tarnished,” said the Commission.
It also came to light that Manoj, a village resident and School Management Committee member, circulated the video and made it viral. “Instead of raising the matter in the SMC monthly meeting, he acted wrongly by making the video viral. Such a person is not suitable to be an SMC member,” commented the Commission.
Report findings
“Out of the students examined during the inquiry, three students specifically admitted that the act committed by the teachers amounted to punishment. The District Education Officer, Hisar, in the conclusion of the inquiry report, has categorically observed that Ms. Santosh Kumari, Trained Graduate Teacher (TGT English), had made the students perform squat punishment and then Ms. Pooja, TGT Maths (Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam), videographed the said incident,” observed the Commission.
It added, “Despite arriving at the aforesaid conclusion, the District Education Officer, Hisar, has neither recommended nor initiated any concrete disciplinary action against the erring/delinquent teachers and merely issued an advisory in the matter.”
Expressing unhappiness over the police inquiry into the matter, the Commission directed DSP Kishori Lal, Agroha, who conducted the inquiry, “to remain personally present before the Commission on the next date of hearing, along with the entire relevant record.” The headmaster of Government High School, Jagan, is yet to submit his report.
SP Hisar Siddhant Jain, who appeared through video conferencing during the hearing, assured the Commission that the matter would be examine afresh and action-taken report submitted.
The next hearing in the case is scheduled for September 1.
