HC stays suspension of tribal teacher over cultural views

Jodhpur: Rajasthan High Court has stayed the suspension of Menka Damor, a tribal teacher from Dungarpur, who had been suspended for expressing her views about sindoor and mangalsutra during a tribal rally at Mangarh Dham in Banswara on July 18.
The court termed the suspension arbitrary and irregular in its order dated August 2 and issued notices seeking reply by September 26.
Damor, who was serving as a second-grade teacher at a government school in Sadadiya in Dungarpur, was suspended on July 24 without any notice for ‘conduct contrary to service rules’.
During the Bhil Pradesh Cultural Rally at Mangarh Dham, Damor had shared her views on Hindu traditions and expressed her opinion on wearing sindoor and mangalsutra. She also emphasised the importance of education in tribal communities.
Damor's counsel argued that her suspension was an injustice and that her comments were intended to draw attention to education reform and the right to cultural autonomy for tribal communities, not to insult any religious practice.
Justice Farzand Ali, after hearing the arguments of the petitioner's lawyer, termed the suspension action “arbitrary and irregular” and said that it did not conform to proper standard procedures. He remarked that the action was taken without clear justification.