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Justice Kameswar Rao of the Delhi High Court has issued notice in a plea filed by the headmistress of a school alleging that she was suspended by the administration for not donating towards the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

The petitioner has submitted that she is a headmistress in a school wherein every year teachers are forced to donate ₹5,000 as charity in Samarpan account. 

However, this year, they were asked to donate ₹15,000 for Samarpan and ₹70,000 towards the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

The petitioner submitted that the amount is beyond her financial capabilities as she has a sick husband to take care of.

On refusal to pay the amount, the administration harassed her and tried to make her resign from her post, she has stated, adding that all her requests for exemption from paying the amount were refused.

The petitioner has further contended that the school has cooked up false allegations against her, including that she threatened teachers and made casteist remarks against them.

She alleges that the school also suspended her and initiated a departmental inquiry without any mandatory prior sanction from the Department of Education.

An enquiry has started against the administration on order of the Deputy Chief Minister, against such harassment. 

The petitioner has also pointed out that her suspension too was in violation Section 8(4) of The Delhi School Education Act, 1973, under which if any managing committee intends to take such a decision the same has to be communicated to the Director and the Director’s approval is required.

Based on the above grounds the petitioner has asked for quashing of the suspension order also sought issuance of directions to the school management to disburse pending arrears of her salary, along with the interest @18% P.A.

Cause Title: Hema Bajaj v. Rao Mehar Chand Saraswati Vidya Mandir School Bhalaswa and Ors