Headmistress suspended for screening Chief Minister’s function at government school in Karur

The School Education Department has placed under suspension the Headmistress of the Panchayat Union Middle School (Girls) at Krishnarayapuram in Karur for violating the department’s circular issued on July 9 and for negligence of duties.

The action comes hours after a video surfaced on social media showing the live screening of Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s visit to Karur on the school premises with students in attendance.

The order stated that S. Malliga was placed under suspension under sub-rule (e) of Rule 17 of the Tamil Nadu Civil Services (D&A) Rules. Sharing the suspension order on his X handle, School Education Minister Rajmohan said “it was improper to screen the live broadcast of a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) event for students at a school”.

“There is no place for politics in educational institutions,” Mr. Rajmohan wrote, adding that he had issued instructions to all Chief Educational Officers and school headmasters to ensure that such incidents are not repeated at any school in the State.

The Minister said he had ordered an immediate and detailed inquiry into the matter, which confirmed that the headmistress had acted unilaterally and in violation of departmental orders.

The order in question was issued by the department, undersigned by the Minister, on July 9 and stated that “except for official events organised by the government, no birthday parties or non-governmental events should be held. No political parties or private organisations are allowed to meet students directly”.

This order came in response to severe backlash after a video of an inspection carried out by Industries Minister S. Keerthana at a school in Sivakasi on July 2 surfaced on social media, where the Minister was seen chiding a student for failing to respond to her questions in English. Mr. Rajmohan also said an inquiry was on into another video that surfaced on social media, but did not give details of the incident.