A Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) spokesperson claimed that the suspension order issued against Sulekha Dalal, a teacher in Haryana and a supporter of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), has been canceled after the party publicly condemned the action. The suspension notice was issued on Wednesday (June 10), days after she attended the party’s protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. However, a CJP spokesperson later posted on X that the suspension had been “cancelled”.
“I am very happy to inform you all that Sulekha Dalal’s suspension has been revoked about 40 minutes ago. Better sense has prevailed. This is a victory for every teacher, student and citizen who believes that no one should be punished for peacefully standing with the youth and asking questions,” CJP spokesperson Sourav Das wrote on X.
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Dalal’s comment
As previously reported by HT, an order was issued by District Primary Education Officer (DEEO), Bijender Hooda, stating that Dalal will be suspended from duty with effect from June 8 for violating the code of conduct arising from her failure to obtain prior permission before participating in such events. The suspension order stipulated that she would not be allowed to leave her headquarters without obtaining prior approval from the competent authority.
She had alleged that the suspension order was a way for the government to target her over her decision to participate in the RJD protest held on June 6 in the national capital. As the mother of a 21-year-old colleague who was a victim of NEET paper leaks, she saw her attendance at Jantar Mantar as a commitment to the thousands of students affected by the government’s lapses.
CJP issued a statement
Shortly after these developments came to light, the CJP’s official communications officer issued a statement calling the decision “an assault on every citizen’s constitutional right to speak, assemble, question and dissent.”
The statement added: “No teacher should be punished for standing with the youth of this country.” “No citizen should be forced to choose between his livelihood and his conscience. No government should feel so insecure that it treats peaceful participation in a public protest as misconduct.”
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“The authorities must also announce the exact reasons for the action taken against them. Vague references to the ‘code of conduct’ cannot become a weapon to punish the opposition,” the party stressed. The statement affirmed the constitutional rights to protest and stand with the oppressed, describing them as “guarantees” and not “gifts” from the state.
Confirming that there was no clear reason for her suspension order, Dalal decided to appeal the order in court. “I went to Delhi just to raise my voice for our children who are being harassed due to paper leakage,” she added. “I have just applied, I am a mother of a son and I am also preparing for competitive exams.”
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The protests organized by the CJP in Delhi on June 6 demanded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, in view of recent lapses in the conduct of crucial entrance exams like NEET, CUET and CBSE boards.