In a unique reprimand, the Himachal Pradesh High Court has directed a teacher to install two water purifiers in a government school as penance for hosting her son’s wedding on the school premises. The event took place at Government Primary School Jahu Kalan in Sulgawan village, Hamirpur, on November 5, 2021, and was attended by the headmaster and school staff.
The incident came to light following a complaint lodged by Shashikant, a local resident, who reported the misuse of the school property to the school administration and the Block Elementary Education department. Despite verification of the complaint, no initial action was taken, prompting Shashikant to pursue further accountability measures through an RTI application and a petition to the High Court in April 2022.
Justice Ajay Mohan Goyal, addressing the case, referenced a 2012 High Court ruling prohibiting political or private programs on government school premises. The court found the teacher’s actions in violation of this order and imposed a corrective measure of installing water purifiers in the school. This decision underscores the judiciary’s stance on maintaining the sanctity of educational institutions.
The court has also called the now-retired headmaster to appear in a subsequent hearing set for October 18 to explore further the involvement of other education department officials. Additionally, the retired headmaster faces potential contempt of court charges for his participation in the event.
