LUCKNOW: In a video that went viral on social media, about 50 students of Classes 1 to 8 of a private school in UP's Siddharthnagar were purportedly seen squatting, with most of them keeping their heads down, outside the school gate after the principal allegedly denied them entry over unpaid fees.
Local administration has set up an inquiry committee, comprising SDM Itwa and principal of Govt Inter College Itwa, to probe the incident.
"A probe is underway and action will be taken based on the recommendations of the committee," said district inspector of school (DIOS) S Pradhan.
The 1.53 minutes video, shot by the principal of Shyamraji High School, SK Tripathi, was made to be used as a ‘warning' to parents to deposit the fees without any further delay.
Tripathi, in the video clip, is heard telling parents: "All you parents were informed to not send your children to school unless you deposit the fees. Fees of all these kids have not been paid and I have not allowed them entry inside the school. Yet you sent them to harass me."
When contacted, Tripathi told TOI, "We had been sending notices to parents to deposit the fees for the past 15 days, else we won't allow kids to enter school from Oct 1. But still, the parents have not paid. On Sep 30, I individually went to all classes to request students to stay back at home so that parents are pressured to pay the fees."
He added, "As per the prior information given to the parents, students with unpaid fees who came to school on Oct 1 were sent back to their homes to request payment. When the students walked barely 10 metres from the school, I was very sad to see them going. So, I called them back and asked them to sit so that I can make a 2-minute video for the parents, apprising them that this is the last day of their wards to enter school without fees."
Tripathi said, "The video was posted on the parents' WhatsApp group and someone shared it on social and local media, citing it as punishment to their children."
In the video, the principal is heard claiming that the bank people had imposed a fine of ₹50,000 on him because of delayed payment. "The bank people have told me that my credit has spoiled, and I will not get another loan in my life," goes the audio with the camera showing children squatting outside the school gate.
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