UP primary school teacher suspended over sexual harassment and misconduct charges

A government primary school assistant teacher in Uttar Pradesh's Amethi district has been suspended following serious allegations of sexual harassment, professional misconduct and dereliction of duty after preliminary investigations found the charges substantiated at first sight.

The Basic Education Department suspended assistant teacher Vaishnavi Nandan Shukla, who was posted at Primary School Pandari in the Shahgarh development block. District Basic Education Officer Sanjay Tiwari took the disciplinary action against the teacher based on a preliminary investigation report into multiple complaints. Seven serious charges have been levelled against the teacher, including making obscene and objectionable remarks to female cooks, issuing threats, showing negligence in teaching work, behaving rudely with students and staff, allegedly blackmailing teachers, and misusing departmental records.

According to information available, female cooks working at the school had filed complaints against the teacher by submitting sworn affidavits. The allegations state that the teacher used to make obscene and objectionable remarks to them and would threaten them when they objected or protested. Besides the female cooks, complaints of serious misconduct, immoral behaviour, indiscipline and negligence in teaching duties against the teacher had also been filed by the school's head teacher, villagers, and the Amethi branch of the Uttar Pradesh Primary Teachers Union.

For the preliminary investigation of the complaints, the Block Education Officer of Musafirkhana was designated as the investigating officer on September 11, 2026. The investigating officer, after submitting the report to the BSA, found the allegations made in the complaints to be prima facie correct. According to the report, the teacher's conduct was found to be contrary to the dignity of the teaching post and the conduct expected of a government servant.

The investigation also brought to light the allegation that the teacher, instead of carrying out teaching work during school hours, used to trade in the share market and remained absent without permission. Along with rude behaviour towards students and staff, allegations have also been levelled that the teacher allegedly blackmailed other teachers by showing them the fear of vigilance inquiry and disproportionate assets, and also demanded extortion money. Allegations of misusing departmental records to get misleading news published and extorting money from retired teachers are also included in the investigation.

On the basis of the preliminary investigation report, BSA Sanjay Tiwari suspended assistant teacher Vaishnavi Nandan Shukla with immediate effect under the Uttar Pradesh Government Servants Conduct Rules, 1956 and the Basic Education Council Employee Service Rules, 1973. Disciplinary proceedings have also been initiated against him. During the suspension period, the teacher has been attached to the Composite School Chanderia affiliated to the Sangrampur development block.