MANGALORE: The Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat is facing a piquant situation when it comes to taking action against erring teachers. The problem stems from the fact that while panchayat members demand disciplinary action against teachers accused of grave charges, including misappropriation of funds, the Department of Public Instruction is reluctant to do so as there is an acute shortage of teachers.

The issue came to the fore at the general meeting of the panchayat here on Saturday. The members, at the last meeting, had sought suspension of Revathi, a teacher at Higher Primary School, Kaniyuru-Padmunja in Belthangady taluk, for allegedly misappropriating scholarship funds. However, the compliance report furnished by Shankarappa, deputy director of the department, stated that Ms. Revathi had been sent on deputation.

The report also added that departmental inquiry had been initiated against Ms. Revathi and that action would be taken against her once the department received inquiry report. The compliance report, however, raised the heckles of the members who accused Mr. Shankarappa of not acting on a house resolution adopted at the last meeting to place Ms. Revathi under suspension. They accused the official of deliberately shielding the teacher.

Mr. Shankarappa, however, refuted the observations made by the members and said the Belthangady Block Education Officer had initiated steps to recover the money allegedly misappropriated by Ms. Revathi and that she had already remitted the money to the school development and monitoring committee (SDMC). The teacher had admitted to the charge against her by remitting the money to SDMC, he said.

Mamatha D.S. Gatti, zilla panchayat president who chaired the meeting, observed that such a step was better compared to suspending the teacher, who would receive 80 per cent of her salary for doing no work had she been suspended. A.M. Kunjappa, chief executive officer, directed Mr. Shankarappa to initiate disciplinary action against Ms. Revathi based on the inquiry report.

Members also took umbrage at the continued absence of Devaraj, a teacher appointed to a school in Puttur taluk. Mr. Shankarappa said Mr. Devaraj had gone on sick leave and also given a written undertaking that he would appear before a medical examination board before rejoining duty. Ms. Gatti pacified the agitated members stating that the teacher was entitled for sick leave and that they could not hold it against him.

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