For inviting Ex MLA, Deldan Namgyal as a chief guest on a school parent’s day cum farewell function, Konchok Angmo, CEO suspended Principal, Govt. Higher Secondary School, Diskit, Tsering Dorjay on December 1.

The invitation card for the school function chief guest showed Former MLA Deldan Namgyal as sitting MLA.

Criticizing the suspension order, during a press conference on December 6, Deldan Namgyal, Former MLA, Nubra said, “The reason cited for the principal suspension is unacceptable.  The invitation card was forwarded before the assembly was dissolved and the reason behind inviting me as a chief guest is because of the financial assistance of ₹ 43 Lakh out of MLA Constituency Development Fund for the development of Govt. Higher Secondary school, Nubra. If this is the actual reason for making a huge fuss than it’s very disheartening to see politics over education”.

He said that CEO is responsible for taking the decision without having a competing authority to suspend a Principal of Govt. Higher Secondary School.

When approached Tashi Dolma, Joint Director, Education and Konchok Angmo, Chief Education Officer, they refused to comment on the issue.

According to the letter issued from the CEO office, “Hon’ble CEC has taken a very serious note of it and has sought an explanation from me and desire to place you under suspension.” The hasty decision without following the guidelines sparked much of the controversy.

Deldan Namgyal alleged Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, CEC for directing and compelling Konchok Angmo, Chief Education Officer to issue a suspension order against the Principal. Talking about the disheartened family members of the Principal, teaching fraternity, villagers and students he appealed Jamyang Tsering Namgyal to keep aside politics over education and to get engage in constructive politics.

The suspension order issued by the CEO without seeking prior approval from the Deputy Commissioner /CEO, LAHDC, Leh is unauthorized as per Rules and Act.  Therefore, the suspension order is kept on abeyance by Avny Lavasa, DC on December 3 and sought an explanation from Principal Tsering Dorjay.

According to Tsering Dorjay, Principal, “The planning for the celebration of the school function started from November 8 but the date for the celebration has been postponed due to examination and Panchayat election in between.  Thus, we finalized the date on November 30 and distributed the card. 

Deldan Namgyal was then sitting MLA and because of his support and contribution to the school, we invited him as a chief guest. After maximum card distribution, the assembly got dissolved but reprinted the leftover cards with Ex MLA designation”.

“I have been serving in this department fromthe last 37 years and instead of an explanation, I receive a suspension order which is very sad.”

Dorjay Namgyal, President, ALTA said that the CEO admitted that she has taken the decision without following the guidelines.  He informed that the committee has been formed to find out the truth behind the case and urged that without any influence the committee should work and bring out the truth.

Tsering Namgyal, President, District Congress Committee said that the suspension order over the name of the chief guest is unacceptable. In a way, it is a discouragement for the entire government employee who has dedicated their life in service and gets suspended for such a minor issue. 

He questioned CEC and CEO that why the principal was not given a time for the explanation? How and why CEO acted upon the direction when she was unauthorized to do so?

 

District Congress Committee seek apology from the Jamyang Tsering Namgyal to the principal.

Amidst all the issue, the allegation was also made to the family for being affiliated with the Congress party and politicizing the issue.

Responding to the issue, Smanla Dorje, son of the principal said, “I am not surprised by the allegation people are putting on my family because when somebody at fault is desperate, they do a lot of unimaginable things to divert the attention from the main issue. I have no interest in the party politics, my agenda is only to fight until my father gets his respect back.”

Deldan Namgyal said, “I don’t believe and neither want to politicize the issue but the way principal has been suspended compelled me to talk on this issue.”

All Ladakh Teacher Association, Leh (ALTA) also condemned the suspension order and said that such steps is a discouragement for the entire teaching fraternity.