The acting principal of a government residential school in Rajasthan's Jhalawar district has been suspended following public outrage over a viral video that showed him brutally beating students. The incident occurred at the Tribal Area Development (TAD) scheme school in Jhalrapatan, sparking immediate protests and administrative action.
Video Evidence Sparks Public Outrage
A disturbing minute-long video clip, reportedly recorded from a nearby building on Thursday evening, captured acting principal Rajendra Arya using a stick to thrash students standing in a queue. The footage shows him striking each student one by one before forcing them into semi-squatting positions as additional punishment. The video quickly circulated across social media platforms, drawing widespread condemnation from the public.
According to officials familiar with the matter, the punishment was administered after several students allegedly jumped the school wall on Thursday afternoon to attend a nearby fair. When the students returned around 5 PM, Principal Arya subjected them to the physical punishment that was later documented in the viral video.
Immediate Administrative Action Taken
In response to the growing public anger, the education department took swift action on Friday. Additional District Education Officer (ADEO) Pawan Patidar confirmed that Rajendra Arya has been relieved from his TAD responsibilities and placed under awaiting posting order (APO) status. The school's warden, Mukesh Kumar Meena, has also been placed under APO status in connection with the incident.
Patidar further revealed that a three-member committee has been established at the direction of the Jhalawar Zila Parishad CEO to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. The committee has been tasked with examining the circumstances that led to the incident and determining whether similar behavior had occurred previously at the institution.
Student Protests and Allegations Surface
Tensions ran high at the school campus on Friday morning as students gathered outside the main gate to stage protests demanding strict action against both the principal and warden. Several students came forward with allegations of repeated torture, verbal abuse, and misbehavior by the two officials, suggesting a pattern of misconduct beyond the isolated incident captured on video.
The TAD-run residential school in Jhalrapatan currently has 243 students enrolled up to Class 12, making it a significant educational institution in the tribal development scheme. Education officials have assured that appropriate corrective measures will be implemented once the inquiry committee submits its comprehensive report.
This incident has raised serious questions about disciplinary practices in residential schools and the protection of students' rights within educational institutions across Rajasthan's tribal areas.
