Govt issues notice to DEO over option of ‘Ram’ for dog’s name in Class 4 exam MCQ

Raipur: The Directorate of Public Instruction (DPI) has served a show cause notice to Mahasamund district education officer (DEO) after a Class 4 English exam question in a couple of govt schools listed "Ram" as one of the options for a dog's name.The question has sparked protests and accusations of hurting religious sentiments from right-wing outfits.In the notice, DPI states that the responsibility for preparing, printing and distributing question papers for primary school examinations rests entirely with the district education officer. Despite this, it says, "serious negligence" occurred, allowing a question to be printed with "Ram" as an answer option to "What is Mona's dog's name?" The notice termed the inclusion "highly objectionable, condemnable and hurtful to religious sentiments" and says that the incident has "damaged the reputation of the govt and the department."DPI said that the DEO's actions reflect "gross negligence and indifference" in performing official duties, amounting to a violation of Rule 3 of the Chhattisgarh Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1965. The DEO was asked to submit a written explanation, failing which the department will proceed with unilateral disciplinary action. DEO Vijay Lahare claimed the error occurred at the printing stage and that the department had no intention of hurting sentiments. An education department official said that the questions for primary classes are prepared by the teachers, and they are approved by exam in-charge, followed by principal, in which the DEO doesn't intervene much. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal protested against the question and burnt the DEO's effigy, alleging that the question was a deliberate insult to religious beliefs.