Rohtak guest teacher suspended after joining CJP protest in Delhi; DEEO says conduct rules violated

A primary guest teacher at Government Middle School, Rainkpura, Rohtak, has been suspended for participating in the Cockroach Janta Party protest at Jantar Mantar on June 6 against exam paper leaks for an alleged violation of government employees’ conduct rules.

Sulekha Dalal was “placed under suspension with effect from June 8” by the District Elementary Education Officer (DEEO) in a June 10 order that cited no reasons for the action. Ms. Dalal’s statements during the protest had gone viral.

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The DEEO Bijender Hooda, however, told The Hindu over the phone that Ms. Dalal had violated the conduct rules for government employees by leaving her station and taking part in the protest without prior approval.

Ms. Dalal said there was no communication from the DEEO office before or after the suspension. “They have not assigned any reason. It makes me believe I have been suspended because I took part in the Cockroach Janta Party protest,” she said.

Ms. Dalal said her 21-year-old son failed to make it to the Delhi Head Constable final list despite “working hard” and alleged the exam was leaked. “The NEET exam got the media spotlight, but there was little talk about the Head Constable’s exam leak,” she said, adding that her family had “no political background for generations”.

“I was waiting for an opportunity to raise my voice against the malaise of exam leaks. So when the CJP announced the protest, I decided to take part. I have not supported or opposed any political party in my media bytes. I had gone there to support the children of the country who work hard day and night but fail because question papers get leaked,” Ms. Dalal said. Vowing to continue her fight “being a mother”, Ms. Dalal said she was not scared of government action. “It is a very small gift from the government. I accept it. But I cannot be cowed down,” she said.

On Instagram, where she has over two lakh followers and describes herself as a “teacher and a social worker”, Ms. Dalal posted a video before leaving for the protest. In it, she requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu to “understand the pain of the children” studying late into the night, calling them “the gods of their children”.