Education Department Suspends Kalain School Principal After Arrest Over Alleged Mental Harassment of Teacher

The Assam Education Department has suspended Sirazul Ambia, Principal of Kalain Higher Secondary School in Cachar, days after he was arrested in connection with an alleged case of mental harassment that led a female assistant teacher to fall unconscious during an examination.

The suspension order, issued by the Director of Secondary Education, Assam, on December 10, states that Ambia was arrested on December 4 in connection with Kalain Police Station Case No. 119/2025 under sections 75(2)/79/299 of the BNS and “had been under custody for more than 48 hours”. As per Rule 6(2) of the Assam Services (Discipline & Appeal) Rules, 1964, he has been placed under suspension with effect from the date of his arrest.

The order further directs that the suspended teacher’s headquarters remain under the jurisdiction of the Inspector of Schools, Cachar, and Ambia, and that Ambia “is not permitted to leave headquarters without prior written permission from the authority”. He has also been instructed to report to the Directorate immediately after being released from judicial custody. He will receive subsistence allowance as per existing rules until further notice.

The case stems from an alleged harassment of a colleague. On December 3, Assistant Teacher Shilu Chanda collapsed during a Class III examination, allegedly after being mentally harassed and publicly humiliated by Principal Ambia over seating arrangements in the classroom. Her husband, Asit Kumar Chanda, told reporters, “I rushed to the school after receiving the news and found her unconscious. I took her to the hospital.” He later filed an FIR, accusing the principal of creating an unsafe environment for women staff. Chanda regained consciousness after primary treatment at a local hospital.

Principal Ambia, however, denied all allegations earlier, calling them “completely motivated”. He stated that he had only instructed the arrangement of desks and benches and “nothing happened that could be considered insulting”, alleging that “a group is trying to defame” him.

Following the FIR, Ambia was detained for questioning on the night of December 3 and formally arrested the next day. He was remanded to judicial custody as per court orders. Though he was released on bail after five days, the Education Department has now officially suspended him based on the arrest and ongoing investigation.