J-K school sacks teacher couple on wedding day, says ‘romance could adversely affect students’

The couple said that they had applied for leave to get married almost a month before the wedding day. ‘If we were in a romantic relationship, did they come to know of it only after we announced our wedding plans?’

A school in South Kashmir’s Pampore area terminated the services of two of its teachers on their wedding day, arguing that by marrying among colleagues the couple “were setting a wrong example for students in the school”.

The couple alleged their services were abruptly terminated by the school management on November 30, the day they got married. (File Photo/For Representation Only)

Tariq Ahmad (Bhat) and Sumaya Bashir, teachers of Muslim Educational Institute of Pampore, working there since 2013 and 2010, respectively, were called by the administration on their wedding day. What was expected to be a congratulatory message turned out to be a termination order. The school reasoned their marriage was “a bad influence on 2,000 students and 200 staff members”.

Speaking to HT, principal Tariq Ahmad Bhat confirmed the order, saying “the two were terminated as the faculty took offence to their romance”.

“About five months ago, some faculty members complained that the two were romantically involved but when we called them, they denied it. On November 28, they asked for leave, saying they are getting married the next day,” he said. “We are just concerned about our 2,000 students and 200 staff members.”

When asked if the school had laid down any rules against such marriages, authorities denied there were “any preconditions mentioned at the time of appointment”. “There is nothing illegal in marriage, even love marriage is a choice that Islam gives us, but they hid it from us when asked about their romantic involvement,” said Bhat. The two teachers are yet to receive their termination orders in writing.

Tariq, who taught maths and science, says the management even made him sign a letter of apology as precondition for considering him for the job again. “They told us we have given a bad name to the school”. His postgraduate wife taught Arabic. “We even gave a treat in the school the day we got engaged. So the question of hiding our relationship does not even arise.”

Tariq said when he asked the school for an experience certificate, “they said they will oblige but after writing that I am a man of bad character”.