JWALA SINGH Vs. U O I

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Kabir, the Indian sage, has put a teacher on a pedestal higher than the Creator for it is through the teacher that one reaches Him. Sadly, however, here is a sordid tale of a school teacher who outraged the modesty of his own student.

(2.) The petitioner Shri Jwala Singh was posted as a teacher at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV), District, Rajouri, J & K. On November 6, 2000, he escorted 13 students , i.e. 10 boys and three girls to Bringkhera School in District Muktsar, Punjab. One of the girls was Kumari Rabina Kausur, a student of 9th class.

(3.) It was reported by the Deputy Director Education, Regional office Chandigarh, that a complaint had been received under the signatures of one Mohd. Bashir, father of said Rabina Kausur, to the effect, that the petitioner had caught hold of the hands of Rabina Kausur and had outraged her modesty while escorting the students from JNV Rajouri to JNV Muktsar, Punjab. On this complaint, a preliminary inquiry was got conducted from Assistant Director Shri P.K. Waghmere and then from another Assistant Director Ms. Kaneez Fatima. Thereafter, a committee consisting of three officers was constituted to carry out further investigations. The petitioner was given opportunity to present his defence before the committee.