Uttarakhand: Sexual harassment case involving students in Chamoli; the education department has taken action and issued these instructions

In light of the incident of sexual abuse and molestation of students in Chamoli, strict measures have been taken to ensure the safety of students in all schools across the state. Following the instructions of Education Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat, Chief Education Officers of all districts have been directed to strictly enforce monitoring and security protocols at the district level to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

Department Takes Action After Chamoli Incident
Director of Secondary Education Dr. Mukul Kumar Sati described the incident of sexual abuse and molestation of students by guest teacher Yunus Ansari at Government Inter College Gauna in Chamoli as sad and worrying. He stated that strict action is being taken in the case on the Minister’s instructions. Furthermore, monitoring and security protocols are being strictly implemented in schools to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

Sati stated that departmental instructions have been issued to district and block-level officials to strictly monitor safety standards in schools and exercise special vigilance. Additionally, the Chief Education Officers of all districts have been asked to take concrete and effective steps to ensure the safety of students in their schools, which will be reviewed periodically at the state level.

Appointments Made to Prevent Teaching Disruption
Dr. Sati stated that the government has deployed guest teachers to ensure that teaching is not disrupted until regular appointments are made to fill the vacant positions of Assistant Teachers (LT) and Lecturers in the state’s secondary schools. In this regard, guest teachers were appointed through selection committees formed in various districts and blocks.

Sati stated that in Chamoli, a committee formed at the block level selected Yunus Ansari for the position of Lecturer in Political Science in August 2015. Ansari was posted at the Government Inter College, Irani, Dasoli. The accused guest teacher was impressed by the appointment of a regular teacher at the school, leading to his posting at the Government Inter College, Gauna, in February 2020.

Yunus Ansari’s teaching contract terminated
Dr. Sati stated that serious complaints of sexual abuse and molestation of students by Yunus Ansari at the school recently came to light. Giving the safety and interests of children the highest priority, the department has terminated his guest teaching contract with immediate effect.

He stated that at the time of selection, Yunus Ansari submitted a permanent residence certificate, a Patwari area certificate, and a valid OBC caste certificate from Uttarakhand along with his application. All these certificates are issued by other departments/authorities, and the department processes these documents as per the rules in the appointment/posting process.

Student safety is the government’s top priority: Minister
Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat stated that the safety of students in schools is the government’s top priority. Clear instructions have been given to departmental officials to strengthen security in schools. Furthermore, all Chief Education Officers have been directed to conduct a comprehensive review of security arrangements in each school and issue necessary instructions to principals.