Kollam: Kottarakara police have registered a case against a security staff member of Easwaravilasam Higher Secondary School (EVHSS), Neduvathoor, in connection with an incident involving the school’s headmistress. The accused, Sasankan, has been booked under Sections 126(2) (punishment for wrongful restraint) and 79 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of BNS.

According to the complaint, the accused attempted to prevent headmistress Sindhu S Nair from entering the school premises because she was wearing a churidar. 

The incident allegedly occurred around 9.00 am on Wednesday, when the security staff member obstructed her near the school compound gate. Following the incident, the General Education Department ordered an inquiry.

Sindhu alleged that she was stopped at the school gate on the instructions of the management and that the gate was locked, denying her entry into the campus. She said she had arrived at the school around 9 am in an autorickshaw carrying eggs meant for the students’ midday meal when the security staff member informed her that she would not be allowed inside as she was wearing a churidar.

Despite having the school keys with her, she was prevented from entering and the gate was locked, she said. Sindhu then staged a sit-in protest outside the gate and alerted the police and the district education officer. After nearly 45 minutes, police reached the spot and facilitated her entry into the school premises.

Education department officials later clarified that there is no ban on teachers wearing churidar in schools. The Deputy Director of Education said a government circular issued in 2008 permits teachers to wear churidar.

Alleging harassment, Sindhu said the school manager had warned her a day earlier against wearing a churidar and claimed that staff members had been compelled to wear saris for years out of fear of the management. She said she would pursue legal action over the incident.

Responding to the allegations, school manager K Sureshkumar said the incident resulted from “over-enthusiasm” on the part of the security staff. He denied issuing instructions to block her entry and said the management had only asked staff to point out employees wearing churidar, not to prevent them from entering the campus. He said further action would be taken after the completion of the inquiry ordered by the education department.