Kollam: Trinity Lyceum principal resigns

KOLLAM: The principal of  the Trinity Lyceum school here has forwarded his resignation letter to the management, while  the latter has blamed the education department for “mentally torturing” him.

The management said this in an explanation letter given to the deputy director of education based on a notice served to take action against the principal and staff members who had celebrated the comeback of  the teachers accused in the death of Gauri Neha, 10th standard student, in October last. She had  jumped off the second floor of the primary block of the school on October 20  and succumbed to her injuries in a private hospital in Thiruvananthap-uram three days later.

K.S. Sreekala, DDE, told DC, “The management has accepted its mistake of celebrating the teachers’ comeback. However, there is no mention of the action taken against the principal and other staff members based on the direction of the education department. The principal himself has expressed his willingness to quit, but the management has not taken a favourable decision,” Sreekala said.

In the letter given to the DDE, the management has also mentioned that action has been taken against other teachers involved in the celebration that was held “without the knowledge” of the management, but the mode of action has not been mentioned. 

Blaming the department for mentally torturing the principal,  the management said that he had submitted his resignation considering his ill-health, which is not yet accepted by the management. The explanation was given after convening  the director board meeting on Wednesday.

The management has also criticised the department for “intervening” in the issue that does not fall under its jurisdiction and said that the decision was not wise which would give an  opportunity to the  miscreants to instigate communalism.
The teachers, Sindhu Paul and Crescence Navis from Kollam, who are accused in the death of Gauri Neha, were given a warm welcome by cutting a cake in the presence of the school principal earlier, which made the DDE to intervene. The DDE warned that if the management fails to abide by the order, the department will cancel the NOC of the school. Gauri Neha’s parents and the action council formed seeking justice to the child have  also demanded police action against the principal. 

The teachers who are accused for abetting the suicide of Gauri Neha of Makkatt Kizhakkathil, Kannimelcheri, Sakthikulangara, had gone  absconding for nearly a month before they surrendered at the Kollam District Magistrate Court.  It  directed the accused to be present before the investigation officer on all Saturdays until the charge sheet was submitted. 

The police has charged the accused under sections 511, 305, 34 of IPC including abetment of suicide and sections under Juvenile Justice Act for torturing the girl.