Himachal Pradesh Teacher Dismissed for Grave Misconduct

A physics teacher in Himachal Pradesh, Rakesh Kumar, was dismissed due to allegations of molesting girl students. An inquiry revealed serious misconduct, leading to his removal under the POCSO Act. The Himachal Pradesh High Court dismissed his appeal to halt the departmental proceedings.

In a significant move, the Himachal Pradesh government has terminated a Physics teacher's employment for alleged misconduct involving the molestation of girl students. The dismissal comes after an in-depth inquiry and adherence to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Rakesh Kumar, stationed at Government Senior Secondary School in Solan district, received his dismissal orders amid charges of sexual harassment during a previous posting. An FIR filed in May 2023 under sections of the Indian Penal Code and POCSO Act led to a departmental probe initiated in September.

The inquiry, overseen by Vaibhav Kumar Shukla, Principal of Government Degree College, Paonta Sahib, revealed that Kumar's defensive documents lacked authenticity. The inquiry officer confirmed the severity of allegations, and Kumar's prolonged judicial custody was a decisive factor leading to his dismissal.

(With inputs from agencies.)