In Haryana’s Jind district, a government school principal, recently arrested for alleged sexual harassment of numerous female students, was dismissed from service on Tuesday, as confirmed by an official statement.

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar issued the termination order based on an investigation report submitted by the concerned department. The Prevention of Sexual Harassment Committee, appointed by the Jind deputy commissioner to investigate the charges, had previously found the principal guilty in several incidents, as detailed in a report by the Sub Divisional Magistrate containing statements from multiple students. The gravity of the case and the allegations prompted the decision to dismiss the principal from service.

Following the emergence of the allegations, a female principal was promptly appointed to the school, and certain staff members were reassigned. The Haryana Police had booked the principal, who was suspended by the Jind administration, under various legal provisions, including Sections 354-A (sexual harassment), 341 (wrongful restraint), and 342 (wrongful confinement) of the Indian Penal Code and under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The accused principal was arrested earlier this month. Regarding the nature of the allegations made by the female students, Jind Deputy Commissioner Mohammed Imran Raza previously stated that the students accused the principal of engaging in “obscene acts” with them.

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