Kolkata, Sep 24 The headmaster of a 150-year-old government school in West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district was transferred on Thursday after he allegedly beat up some students following a controversy over a special midday meal, a minister said.
School Education Minister Dipak Barman told PTI that headmaster Dharmachand Barui of the Jalpaiguri Zilla School was transferred with immediate effect to a Malbazar school in the district after an inquiry by both the district inspector of schools and the department about the incident.
A special midday meal is generally served to students on the occasion of Teachers’ Day, and it was supposed to be provided to students on September 8. However, a section of the students complained that they were not given rice and chicken in adequate quantities.
The headmaster was accused of beating up some students. According to eyewitnesses, an altercation broke out after which the students chased the headmaster, pushed him to the ground and assaulted him.
After a preliminary investigation, the district school education department blamed both sides for the clash.
“Barui had been asked to go on 15 days’ leave by the department from September 9, while the four students were on September 11 given transfer certificates for assaulting their teacher,” the minister said.
Those Class 10 students were barred from continuing their studies at Jalpaiguri Zilla School and permitted to get admission to another school.
The minister had visited the 150-year-old government school in Jalpaiguri town on September 11 and held a meeting with department officials and school staff.
(PTI News)
