Jharkhand: School Principal Suspended Over Viral Dance Video

Garhwa: Jharkhand Education Department has suspended Garhwa headmaster Kundan Kumar Ranjan after a viral video showed inappropriate dancing and “objectionable” songs at a school farewell.

The Jharkhand Education Department initiated strict disciplinary action on Thursday after a video of a school farewell event in Garhwa district triggered a social media firestorm. The footage, captured at the Middle School in Sohabaria village, showed staff playing objectionable songs and dancing inappropriately on school grounds.

Administrative Crackdown

Following a preliminary inquiry into the viral clips, District Education Officer (DEO) Kaiser Raza announced the following actions:

• Suspension: The department suspended the in-charge headmaster, Kundan Kumar Ranjan, with immediate effect under the Jharkhand Government Servants Rules, 2016.
• Termination Proceedings: Officials launched termination proceedings against two assistant teachers, Purushottam Pandit and Subeshwar Ram, for serious indiscipline.
• Strict Monitoring: During his suspension, Ranjan must report to the Area Education Officer in Garhwa daily to mark biometric attendance to qualify for a subsistence allowance.

Details of the Incident

The controversy stems from a farewell programme for Class 8 students where staff brought a DJ system onto the campus. The viral video shows teachers participating in the dance and behaving inappropriately with female students while loud, “objectionable” music played in the background.

“The action followed a thorough examination of the viral video,” stated DEO Kaiser Raza. “The incident constitutes a serious violation of school discipline and teacher conduct norms.”

Ongoing Investigation

While the department has already taken initial steps, officials have launched a detailed probe into the event. The Education Department warned that findings from this investigation may lead to further legal or administrative penalties for those involved.