Tiruchy, July 16: District Collector Jayashree on Friday ordered an inquiry into the assault of teachers by hired goons inside a school here in the presence of students on Thursday.
Teachers of CE Higher Secondary School and their family members, led by K Thirumavalavan, general secretary, Tamil Nadu Private School Teaching and Non-Teaching staff Association, submitted a petition to the District Collector, who assured them of immediate action. The petition pointed out that the government had earlier observed irregularities in the management of the school.
The school management was obtaining funds from the government from 1996 to 2009, fraudulently claiming that it was paying salary to a record clerk, Beulah Sekar, who is the sister of the school correspondent, the petition said. Inquiries revealed that it was a false claim, following which the government ordered repayment of the amount (`8.42 lakh), which was complied with by the management, the petition pointed out.
Similarly, the school management had appointed one Nirmala Christy as the headmistress, who did not have the mandatory five years teaching experience, the petion alleged. Both these cases are said to be pending in court.
On learning that the teachers had submitted petitions to the Chief Educational Officer (CEO) in this regard, the management hired goons to assault them, the teachers alleged .
As many as 21 persons, including M James, the Headmaster of CE Primary School, accused of masterminding the attacks, have been arrested by the police.
–Agencies