SMS teachers up in arms against school principal

A section of teachers at Maharaja Sawai Man Singh Vidyalaya, Jaipur have moved Rajasthan State Commission for Women accusing the school principal of mentally harassing them.

The commission on Thursday heard the arguments and counter arguments of the school management representing principal Krishna Bhati, and the 34 agitating teachers.

Abha Dadhich, a teacher, claimed that she resigned from the school because of the harassment.

“Teachers were summoned by the principal at the school closing time and made to wait outside for five hours.

“The principal at times calls teachers while the class is on and rebukes them. How can the teacher be in a state of mind to continue normally with the class,” she asked.

She claimed that more than 40 teachers have resigned during the tenure of this principal.

At present, the school has 120 teachers.

Another former teacher, Deepa Lala said that she is a cancer survivor and was made to forcefully resign.

Another teacher, who did not wish to be named, said that the school management has cancelled the summer vacation for the teachers.

Anuropp Singhi, a lawyer who represented the school management, termed the allegations as false and baseless.

“Only a few teachers are creating problems due to their personal motives.

“Rest of the teachers are happy, the students are happy, and the management is happy,” he said.

Singhi also said that the agitating teachers had written three letters to the management.

“After receiving the letters, we called the teachers for a meeting. They said they will not meet in the principal’s presence.

“They also refused to meet during the school hours. We can’t hold a meeting according to their terms and conditions,” he added.

Suman Sharma, the chairperson of the commission said that the teachers raised 10 grievances, including mental harassment by the principal being the main one.

“The school management has accepted some but denied the rest. We might have another hearing on this issue,” she added.

The school is owned by the Jaipur royal family and Rani Vidya Devi is the chairperson of the managing committee.