Allahabad High Court Keeps Suspension Of Teacher In Forced Conversion Case In Abeyance Pending Disciplinary Inquiry
The Allahabad High Court was considering a writ petition filed with the prayer to quash the impugned suspension order passed by the District Basic Education Officer.
Justice Manju Rani Chauhan, Allahabad High Court
The Allahabad High Court has stayed the suspension order passed against a teacher accused of making the students perform Islamic prayers and wear uniforms indicating they belonged to a special community. The High Court held that the accused would have the opportunity to prove his innocence during departmental enquiry.
The High Court was considering a writ petition filed with the prayer to quash the impugned suspension order passed by the District Basic Education Officer, Sambha.
The Single Bench of Justice Manju Rani Chauhan held, “This Court is of the considered opinion that the charges levelled against the petitioner cannot be examined at this stage, inasmuch as the explanation and the documents relied upon by the petitioner can be raised as a defence in the departmental enquiry. During the departmental enquiry, the petitioner shall have ample opportunity to prove his innocence.”
“Till conclusion of the enquiry, the impugned suspension order shall be kept in abeyance and shall abide by the final outcome of the enquiry”, it added.
Advocate Bhavesh Singh Jadaun represented the Petitioner while Chief Standing Counsel represented the Respondent.
Factual Background
The petitioner was placed under suspension based on the allegations that during the period when he was Incharge Headmaster, the students were performing Islamic prayers and were wearing such uniform indicating that they belonged to a special community.
Arguments
It was the petitioner’s case that he was admitted in the hospital for treatment, and medical leave was sanctioned to him during the relevant period.
Reasoning
The Bench held that the petitioner would have ample opportunity to prove his innocence during the department enquiry.
The Bench thus ordered, “The writ petition is disposed of with a direction that the enquiry initiated against the petitioner be brought to its logical conclusion, strictly in accordance with law, at the earliest, and preferably within a period of 15 days from today.”
The Bench thus directed the impugned suspension order to be kept in abeyance till the final outcome of the enquiry.
Cause Title: Mohd. Anzar Ahmed v. Principal Secretary Basic Education And 4 Others (Neutral Citation: 2026:AHC:186152)
Appearance
Petitioner: Advocates Bhavesh Singh Jadaun, Mohd. Naushad Siddiqui, Saiyad Iqbal Ahmed
Respondent: Chief Standing Counsel, Advocate Nagendra Kumar Pandey