Teaching staff absent, students standing out in the open, Himachal minister recommends suspension of 4 teachers

A senior officer said, “The suspension of four teachers out of five was recommended. Further administrative action is being taken.”

Sources said the Revenue Minister was on his Pangi visit when some villagers stopped his convoy at Thandal village under Purthi Panchayat and complained about frequent absenteeism of teachers at the local middle school.

Acting immediately on the villagers’ complaint, Negi diverted his route and reached the Government Middle School, Thandal.

On inspection around 10.30 am, he discovered that not a single teacher had reported for duty while 35 schoolchildren were waiting outside in the biting cold.

An official attached with the Revenue Minister said, “A short while later, one teacher arrived — but he did not have the keys to the school. Witnessing the distressing scene, the minister ordered the lock to be broken and directed that the children be seated inside immediately. Expressing displeasure over the situation, he instructed the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Pangi, to conduct an inquiry and submit a detailed report.”