Jaipur, Jan 13 (NationPress) The education department has taken the significant step of suspending the headmaster of Government Primary School, Talab ki Dhani, located in Hingota village of Gangapur City tehsil in Rajasthan’s Sawai Madhopur district, following serious allegations that non-vegetarian food was being prepared on the school grounds.

This suspension was enacted after a preliminary investigation raised concerns regarding the actions of headmaster Amar Singh Meena. However, a three-member inquiry committee that visited the school on Tuesday reported finding only potato and cauliflower curry in the kitchen, which contradicts the claims of meat being cooked.

The situation escalated when a video surfaced on social media, allegedly depicting the headmaster giving students a holiday without proper authorization while food preparation was occurring in the school kitchen. It was claimed that meat and rotis were being cooked during this time, and that the headmaster was outside the school in an intoxicated state. Community members reported that the school’s main entrance was locked from the inside, preventing students from entering.

In response to the matter, the education department formed a three-member inquiry committee comprising Vijay Sankhla, headmaster of Hingotia; Jitendra Lodha, headmaster of Mahatma Gandhi Government School, Sapera Basti; and Kapil Sharma, headmaster of Reti School.

The committee conducted a thorough inspection of the school, gathering statements from villagers, the headmaster, the cook, and other relevant individuals, while also collecting evidence from the site. A detailed inquiry report will be submitted to higher authorities.

During their investigation, the committee observed potato and cauliflower curry in the kitchen. The cook, Indraj, asserted that he had only prepared vegetable curry and rotis on Monday, denying any involvement in the preparation of non-vegetarian dishes. He explained that the same food was still present in the kitchen and attributed the lack of visibility during the incident to poor lighting.

Sawai Madhopur District Education Officer (Headquarters), Elementary Education, Devilal Meena, confirmed the suspension of Amar Singh Meena, indicating that his actions appeared questionable during the initial inquiry. According to the suspension order, the headmaster has been assigned to the office of the Chief Block Education Officer, Samagra Shiksha, Sawai Madhopur, during this period.

In response to the claims, Amar Singh Meena stated that the school had not been officially closed and mentioned that a Ramlila event was ongoing in the village, with a family providing food for the children. He denied having any knowledge of what was being cooked, asserting that he had not entered the kitchen nor was he aware of the cook’s actions.

The education department has indicated that further measures will be taken following the submission of the inquiry committee's comprehensive report.