Acting on a complaint by the school manager, Calangute police have registered an offence under Section 354 IPC against the male teacher.
In the police complaint, the school manager told Calangute police that the school managing committee had been informed that the teacher had misbehaved with the girl students and that his behaviour had been offensive in nature.
“Some of these students have been interviewed who showed their willingness to cooperate in whatever action we may take,” states the complaint, adding that the mother of one student had agreed that the school should take necessary action against the accused teacher.
The complaint further stated that the accused teacher would allegedly misbehave with some girls, despite being told by the students that they did not like such behaviour.
“He also holds their hands against their wishes,” states the complaint, while indicating other instances of misbehaviour with the girl students.
“He is seen to empty the waste-paper basket over the head of the students. He talks to the present girl students about having girlfriends from among the ex-students,” the complaint added.
Earlier on January 25, the school had convened an emergency meeting to discuss and decide on the course of action to be taken because of complaints by some girl students.
The meeting discussed the allegations by the girl students against the teacher and it was brought to the notice that one girl had even reported the matter to the school counsellor. Acting on the advice of the school counsellor, the girl had clearly told the teacher concerned not to touch her, but the male teacher continued with his actions.
During the meeting, the school committee was informed that three female staff employees had met the schoolgirls on January 23 to verify their complaints.
The committee was also informed that when the counsellor was contacted, the counsellor denied having received any serious complaint from the children and claimed that she was only answerable to the person signing her muster-roll.
At the meeting, the members were informed that despite repeated attempts, there had been no reply to the messages sent to the counsellor’s mobile number. The committee members believed that the school headmaster had no knowledge of the misbehaviour of the male teacher as he had not been informed by the counsellor.
