ADVERTISEMENT
The sacked teacher couple from Pampore area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Saturday said that they won’t rejoin their services despite their reinstatement by the school authorities.
Muslim Education Institute (MEI) Pampore on Saturday reinstated the sacked teacher-couple after facing ire from the Education Minister Altaf Bukhari and the State Human Rights Commission.
Deputy Commissioner Pulwama, Ghulam Mohammad Dar had called the two parties to his office where the school management agreed to reinstate the services of the couple sacked on their wedding day allegedly for romancing.
Tariq Bhat and Sumaya Bashir – residents of Tral town in Pulwama – were employed at Pampore Muslim Educational Institute for the past several years.
They said their services were abruptly terminated by the school management on November 30, the day they got married.
The chairman of the school Bashir Masoodi said the duo was relieved from their services as they were in a “romantic relationship” before getting married.
“They were having a romance and it is not good for the 2,000 students of the school and 200 staff members working there. This can adversely affect the students,” Masoodi said, according to PTI news agency.
The couple, however, claimed that they had an arranged marriage.
Taking cognizance of a news report about the teacher couple’s sacking on their wedding day, the J&K State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) on Friday asked the school principal to appear before it on Monday.
Education Minister Altaf Bukhari took potshots at the school administration for the decision to sack the teacher couple.
“What is wrong even if they loved each other? They performed Nikkah and their wedding was solemnised by their parents,” said Bukhari.
Talking to Greater Kashmir, Bhat said that they feel humiliated by the decision of the school administration. “I was humiliated by the school management right after we finished the meeting with the Deputy Commissioner. They scolded and abused me,” claimed Bhat.
“My wife and I know that this is just the beginning of how they will treat us. Therefore, we have taken a decision of not joining the school again,” he said.
Thanking the media for highlighting his case, he said: “I urge the government to take strong action against the school management.”
However, Principal MEI Tariq Ahmed said that they wholeheartedly want the couple back in the school.
“I don’t know who has humiliated the couple. They are my teachers and I assure you they won’t face any issue,” he said.
