Patna: A teacher of a government school in Darbhanga has been served a showcause notice for urinating in public.

The block development officer (BDO) of Benipur, Vijay Prakash Meena, issued a showcause notice to Sajjan Paswan, a teacher posted at a government primary school under Pauri panchayat of the district after he was found urinating in public on January 13.

Sajjan has been directed to reply of the showcause notice within a week failing which departmental proceedings would be initiated against him. The showcause notice reached the school under Benipur block on Tuesday, making the teacher in question jittery.

Sajjan had gone to the sub-divisional office for some official work when he felt the need to relief himself. Finding no place in sight, he started urinating at a public place drawing the attention of some of the employees, who complained to the block development officer.

Sajjan revealed that he had gone to the block headquarters at Benipur to submit documents related to electoral rolls as he was also working as booth level officer (BLO) of the area. "I will send my reply of the notice within the stipulated time," he told The Telegraph over phone.

Benipur block development officer Meena said the teacher has been served a showcause notice for urinating in public, which is an offence. "When we have launched special drive against cleanliness, a school teacher is supposed to cooperate with us. Instead, he himself committed the offence," the officer said.

A senior officer posted at the district headquarters, however, said the BDO should have imposed a penalty on the erring teacher immediately for committing the offence. "How can officials expect from common people to follow discipline when their men (read public servants) don't do so," he asked. In 2014, the Union government had launched a special drive to promote cleanliness among people. Two years later, the Centre directed state governments to start levying fines for littering, open defecation and public urination. Littering or urinating in public places could invite penalties ranging between Rs 200 and Rs 5,000 depending on the seriousness of the offence.

Additional reporting by Roshan Kumar