J&K: Rajouri Education Authority Recommends Lecturer’s Suspension Over Prayer Platform In School

Jammu, Dec 28: Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district have recommended the suspension of an Arabic lecturer of a government higher secondary school for allegedly ordering the construction of a platform on a school building for offering prayers, officials said on Sunday.

According to officials, the recommendation follows a preliminary inquiry based on a letter issued by the Chief Education Officer (CEO), Rajouri, which found that Munnawar Hussain, Lecturer (Arabic) at Government Higher Secondary School, Chingus, had prima facie directed the construction of the platform on the roof of a newly built block of the institution.

The CEO, in a letter addressed to the Director, School Education Jammu on Saturday, formally recommended suspension of the lecturer pending further action, the officials said.

They said the construction triggered protests, with a large number of people gathering at the school premises and demanding strict action against the lecturer.

The CEO said he, along with the District Education Planning Officer, visited the school on the directions of the Deputy Commissioner and interacted with local residents to assess the situation.

Meanwhile, the lecturer has been directed to report to the office of the Chief Education Officer for further duties, officials added. (Agencies)