MCD school in-charge suspended for dividing students on religious basis (Lead)

New Delhi : The in-charge of a Delhi municipal school was suspended on Wednesday and the state apex child body took cognizance after reports emerged that the school seated Hindus and Muslims in separate sections.

Informing about the suspension of the in-charge of the North DMC primary school in Wazirabad, North Delhi Mayor Adesh Gupta said that social divide on the basis of caste, community or religion would not be tolerated in schools.

He also said that major penalty proceedings have been initiated against the in-charge as he was found guilty in the preliminary investigation.

"We follow the spirit of the Constitution. If any such divide is found to be in practice, it would be rectified immediately and strict action would be taken against those found guilty," he said.

The Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) directed the school to produce by October 25 the procedure followed in assigning sections to students.

The DCPCR recommended to the NDMC Education Director to "constitute a committee to investigate the matter further and furnish before the Commission the details and sequence of events that took place which led to the said situation".

It also ordered that steps be taken to prevent a repeat of such a situation.

A media report on Wednesday said that some teachers employed by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation had alleged that a primary school in Wazirabad was segregating Hindu and Muslim students in different sections.

According to the attendance records of the school, the report claimed that as of October 9, the section-wise break up of students were: Class IA: 36 Hindus, IB: 36 Muslims; IIA: 47 Hindus, IIB: 26 Muslims and 15 Hindus, IIC: 40 Muslims; IIIA: 40 Hindus, IIIB: 23 Hindus and 11 Muslims, IIIC: 40 Muslims, IIID: 14 Hindus and 23 Muslims; IVA: 40 Hindus, IVB: 19 Hindus and 13 Muslims, IVC: 35 Muslims, IVD: 11 Hindus and 24 Muslims; VA: 45 Hindus, VB: 49 Hindus, VC: 39 Muslims and 2 Hindus, VD: 47 Muslims.

Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia has also sought a report by Friday.

"The act of dividing students on the basis of religion is the biggest conspiracy against the Constitution by the BJP-governed MCD. I have ordered the Education Department to submit a report by Friday," Sisodia tweeted.