An incident at a government primary school in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, where two girl students were expelled for allegedly stealing laddus during Independence Day celebrations, has attracted widespread attention. The Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA) has initiated an investigation into the actions of the school principal involved in the matter.
The Incident:
The expelled students, sisters studying in the seventh and eighth grades, belong to a financially poor family. The incident took place in the Nakur area on August 15, during the school’s Independence Day celebrations, when laddus were distributed to students. Some of these sweets were kept in the principal’s office. The next day, when students returned to school, it was alleged that the two sisters had stolen the laddus while going to drink water.
When the school principal learned of the alleged theft, the girls were accused and subsequently expelled from the school. Their father, Jasbir Kumar, claimed that the principal falsely implicated his daughters and misbehaved with him when he visited the school to address the situation. The father lodged a complaint with the Sub-Divisional Magistrate’s office.
Response from the Authorities:
One of the expelled sisters denied any involvement, stating that other girls were responsible for the theft and that she was falsely accused. She also claimed that the principal beat her before expelling her.
Following the family’s outcry, Kumari Komal, the Principal Education Officer of Saharanpur, acknowledged the incident and has ordered a thorough investigation. The Block Education Officer has been instructed to counsel the family. While the preliminary investigation has not provided concrete evidence of the alleged theft, the matter is still under review.
This incident highlights the sensitivity of the situation and the need for a fair and just resolution, particularly given the impact on the girls’ education.
