Education department suspends female principal after 17-year-old boy alleges sexual harassment

A woman principal of a government senior secondary school in Punjab’s Patiala has been suspended after a 17-year-old boy of the same school levelled alleged sexual harassment charges against her. 

The Punjab education department has suspended the principal of government senior secondary school, Mardanpur, Adarsh Bhalla, 52. A suspension order was released by Krishan Kumar, secretary education. 

Krishan Kumar, secretary education, has ordered suspension of Adarsh Bhalla, 52, principal of the government senior secondary school, Mardanpur.

The Punjab education board has directed the principal to report at the headquarters.

Officials of education department said that actions were taken against the principal against Bhalla on basis of inquiry conducted by education department circle officer Nishi Jalota. 

Jalota said the statements of the victim, his parents, school staffs and other students have been taken.

The matter came to light after class-12 boy’s name was struck out from the school. The victim on learning his name being struck off from the school records he detailed his ordeal to his parents. 

On learning the incident the boy’s parent and villagers gheraoed the school campus and raised protest.

The boy alleged that the principal on regular occasions to take him at her residence and make sexual advances. He had also told the media that the accused used to make him sit beside her in the office during school-hours.