Officials in Mathura order an inquiry immediately after the complaint; teachers and parents say the response appears harsh, one-sided, and silent on context and intent
MATHURA – A controversy has grown in the historic Uttar Pradesh city of Mathura after a Muslim headmaster of a government primary school was suspended following a complaint that children were being taught to offer namaz on school premises. The action, taken within a day of the complaint, has drawn criticism for being rushed and for targeting a Muslim teacher without first hearing his side.
The case relates to a government primary school in the Nauhjheel block. The headmaster, identified as Jan Mohammad, was suspended on 31 January by the District Basic Education Officer (BEO) after a written complaint was submitted a day earlier by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) mandal president Durgesh Pradhan.
According to officials, the complaint alleged that students at the school were being asked to offer namaz during school hours. Acting on the complaint, the BEO placed the headmaster under suspension and ordered a formal inquiry.
District Basic Education Officer Ratan Kirti confirmed the action. ‘A complaint was received on 30 January alleging that children at a primary school in Nauhjheel were being made to offer namaz. In view of the seriousness of the allegation, the headmaster has been suspended and an inquiry has been ordered,’ he said.
Two block education officers, representing the Chhata and Mant education blocks, have been assigned to conduct the inquiry. Officials said the committee has been asked to submit its report within one month. “If the allegations are found to be true, further legal action will be taken,” Ratan Kirti added.
However, teachers and community members have questioned the speed and manner of the suspension. They argue that the headmaster was declared guilty at first glance, without a preliminary hearing or verification. A local teacher, requesting anonymity, said, “Suspension within 24 hours shows pressure. There should have been a fair check before such a big step was taken.”
Supporters of the headmaster say the issue has been framed communally. They point out that there is no evidence so far that prayers were forced on any child. “No parent complained. The complaint came from a political leader. That itself raises questions,” said a parent from the village.
They also note that in many government schools, religious and cultural practices linked to the majority community often pass without action. “When Saraswati Vandana or other rituals happen, nobody calls it a problem. But when a Muslim teacher is accused, action is immediate,” said a local social worker.
BJP mandal president Durgesh Pradhan defended his complaint. “A government school is not a place for religious teaching. I submitted a written complaint to the education officer and asked for action,” he said.
The district magistrate has so far not issued any statement on the matter.
As the inquiry proceeds, the suspension has become a subject of debate across the district, with many seeing it as another example of how Muslim teachers face scrutiny and punishment more quickly than others. For now, Jan Mohammad remains suspended, awaiting the findings of the inquiry committee, while questions over fairness, intent, and equal treatment continue to grow.
