SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Jan 14: Despite the Dhanbad district administration giving a clean chit, the Council for Education, Northern Province Carmel Jwala, Patna, has launched an internal inquiry into the alleged shameful incident at Carmel School, Digwadih, Dhanbad. The council has also ordered the principal, Sister M. Devashree A.C., to step aside from her administrative responsibilities during the investigation.
In a press release, Councillor Sister Maria Kirti A.C. stated that the internal inquiry aims to ascertain the facts of the incident and, if necessary, recommend corrective measures.
“To ensure an impartial inquiry, the principal of the school has been asked to refrain from all administrative duties until the investigation is completed,” said Sister Maria Kirti A.C.
According to allegations made by parents, as well as local MPs and MLAs, on January 9, the principal of Carmel School, Digwadih, allegedly forced Class X girl students to remove their shirts as punishment for celebrating ‘Pen Day.’ The students had been writing messages on each other’s clothing to mark the occasion.
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“As an institution, we are wholeheartedly committed to fostering a safe, respectful, and nurturing environment for all our students. Our initial inquiry indicates that the Class X students were wearing an extra shirt over their school uniforms on which they were writing messages. Despite this, we have initiated a detailed internal investigation,” added Sister Maria.
Following complaints from the girls’ parents, Dhanbad Deputy Commissioner Madhvi Mishra formed a five-member committee, led by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), to probe the matter.
In addition, the Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority (JHALSA) took suo motu cognizance of the incident and directed the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) to conduct an inquiry and submit a report. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has also asked the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) to investigate the matter.
Interestingly, on Monday evening, SDM Rajesh Kumar reportedly facilitated a compromise between the parents of the alleged victims and the principal, subsequently clearing the school of any wrongdoing.
However, the Council for Education, Northern Province Carmel Jwala’s decision to conduct its own inquiry and strip the principal of her administrative powers has added a new twist to the unfolding controversy.
