School teachers meet Patna district magistrate Sanjay Kumar Singh (left) at his janata darbar in Patna on Thursday. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Patna, Nov. 24: Four teachers of Rajkiya Madhya Vidyalaya, Chiraiyatand, faced the heat of Patna district magistrate (DM) Sanjay Kumar Singh when they visited his weekly janata darbar at Patna Collectorate today.

The teachers had come to complain against a suspended headmaster, Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, who was allegedly not handing over the post to another teacher despite facing disciplinary action. The DM got upset over the manner in which the teachers came in a group to complain about the headmaster after suspending regular classes.

Once the teachers narrated the issue, the DM said: “I have taken disciplinary action against him and I have also asked the district education officer (DEO) to file an FIR against him. Now tell me, what’s the use of coming here in a group? You (the teachers) told me that he (the headmaster) is threatening you. I don’t understand the logic of coming here again and again. Is he a tiger? What is he?”

Sanjay asked the teachers: “Why have you all come in a group? Why not one teacher? Was it necessary to visit the darbar after suspending all classes? It seems there is something fishy in the case now. You people are not interested in teaching the children. Tutoring them should be your first priority.”

Suddenly, one of the teachers, Suresh Prasad, interrupted the DM, which infuriated him further. He shouted at him: “Don’t you dare interrupt me when I am talking.” On the DM’s query, the teachers said there were six teachers and 400 students in the school. When DM Singh got to know of a drop in the number of students, he said: “Student count dropped from 700 to 400. That implies a massive dropout. The teachers’ first priority should be to stop the dropout, which is mentioned in the terms of appointment.”

DM Singh added: “You people have failed in your duty. You have to ensure that children come to the school to study but it seems that you people are more engrossed in other vested interests.”

“I suspect mismanagement in the school and reckon misappropriation of midday meal provided by the government. Where is the ration for the midday meal of 300 students going? I need an answer. Today only, I am ordering the DEO to inquire into this matter. If you people are found guilty, then be ready to face suspension,” the DM said. The teachers, Asha Kumari, Suresh Parsad, Abhnendra Kumar and Rajmani Kumari left the darbar silently.