Raipur: Chief Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday suspended a school principal for allegedly recovering additional fees and undesired behavior with students.
Baghel had reached village Jevartala falling under the Gunderdehi assembly constituency as a part of his ‘Bhent-Mulaqat Abhiyan’. A student of Pinkapar School complained about the school principal not behaving well with the students and allegedly recovering additional fees during the Covid-19 pandemic times. Taking cognizance of the complaint, chief minister ordered a suspension of the principal of Government Higher Secondary School Pinkapar.
An order regarding the same has been issued by the School Education Department on the instructions of the chief minister. It has been stated in the order issued that school principal Smt. Sangita Khobragade allegedly recovered annual local fund fees from the students even during the closure of the school in academic session 2020-21 due to the Covid-19 pandemic when the classes were being conducted online. However, the amount was partially refunded after the intervention of the School Management Development Committee and complaints made to the public representatives.
Such malpractices by the principal amount to a lack of transparency in financial activities and non-compliance with stock purchase rules. In addition, it has been confirmed in the preliminary investigation that she did not take approval from the School Management Development Committee for purchase and sale. This act of the school principal is contrary to the Chhattisgarh Civil Services (Conduct) Rules. During the suspension period, the office of District Education Officer Balod has been fixed as her headquarters, the order said.
