The Delhi High Court has upheld the termination of a Kendriya Vidyalaya teacher on charges of sexually harassing one of his girl students, while observing that his “dissipated conduct” would grub the school’s atmosphere and set a bad precedent for the students.
A Division Bench, refusing to set aside the decision of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) that went against the teacher, said it would be inhuman to not believe that an adolescent girl was made to face disgrace and ignominy in the entire set of circumstances.
The Bench comprising Justice Kailsah Gambhir and Justice I.S. Mehta dismissed the writ petition moved by the teacher, Udai Singh, challenging two orders of the CAT passed in 2010 and 2011.
The court said in its judgment last week that it had found sufficient evidence to prove that the teacher had targeted the girl, a Class XII student, for his own gratification on the pretext of making her secure good marks.
The petitioner’s counsel submitted that the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan did not give him an opportunity to explain his case before the members of the enquiry committee.
He contended that the committee’s findings were illegal and against the principles of natural justice.
The court rejected the arguments.
The Bench also said in its 20-page judgment that the students who muster the courage to bring such “terrible people” out in the open should be lauded.
The girl had written a letter to the school principal, saying that the teacher used to sexually harass her when she went to take tuitions from him after school.
It would be inhuman to not believe that an adolescent girl was made to face disgrace and ignominy: HC
