Teacher absent for five months, Mohali education dept finally takes action

Karamjit Singh, posted at Government Primary School, Karala village, Mohali, has not reported to work since October last year, without any intimation

Waking up from its slumber, the district education department has finally initiated disciplinary action against a government schoolteacher, who has been absent from duty for five months.

Karamjit Singh will be facing an inquiry after a charge sheet under Rule 8 of the Punjab Civil Services Rules, said Mohali district education officer (primary) Sushil Nath. (HT)

Karamjit Singh, posted at Government Primary School, Karala village, has not reported to work since October last year, without any intimation.

“We have summoned all his records and found that he has not been reporting for work since October last year. We will charge sheet him under Rule 8 of the Punjab Civil Services Rules and initiate an inquiry,” said district education officer (primary) Sushil Nath.

The school has a strength of 143 students, who are taught by five teachers, including Karamjit.

School head Surjit Singh said in Karamjit’s absence, students’ education had suffered a lot: “We have informed the authorities concerned for further action against him.”

Even after repeated attempts, Karamjit did not respond to HT’s calls and messages.

Sarpanch of Karala village, Gurdeep Singh said, “First the students suffered due to lockdown and then, a teacher has been absent since October last year. The authorities should take strict action against the irresponsible teacher for playing with the students’ future.”

Karamjit had remained absent for two months in 2013 as well, when he was posted at Government School, Bhigandi. But later his leaves were approved.

In 2015, the teacher was arrested for possession of drugs, following which he was placed under suspension by the education department for four years. He also spent one month in jail before being acquitted in the case.

While he was under suspension, his salary was slashed by half. But after he was acquitted, his full salary was reinstated.

In July last year, Karamjit had alleged that when he approached Pritpal Singh, a junior assistant at the DEO Office, to release his withheld salary, which ran up to ₹10 lakh, the latter sought 40% of the arrears as bribe, but agreed for ₹3.5 lakh.

Pritpal was arrested on July 21, 2021, while accepting a ₹1 lakh bribe at Karamjit’s house in Phase 11. He has since maintained that he was falsely implicated in the case.