School for blind gets notice on teacher's sacking

The Delhi High Court Monday issued notice to an association running a school for blind students here and its general secretary on a teacher's plea that he was illegally dismissed from his post.

Justice V.K. Jain sought response from the National Association for Blind (NAB), which runs school-cum-hostel for blind children at R.K. Puram here, and its general secretary Arvinder Ashtdhir by March 31, 2014.

Dhirender Singh moved the court, alleging that the association terminated his services after he "refused to carry out the personal work of superior officials".

"The superior officials of Dhirender Singh wanted him to carry out their personal/private work also along with usual office duty, which he resisted or refused to oblige. On Singh's refusal to carry out personal work, senior officials, general secretary Ashtdhir threatened him with dire consequences, even removal from services," his lawyer said.

On Sep 1, 2004, Dhirender Singh was appointed as teacher with the NAB on ad-hoc basis for a period of three months. He was confirmed on regular basis in the service from July 1, 2006.

Dhirender Singh alleged that after his confirmation, the senior officials started wanting him to carry out their personal work too, which he refused.

On Aug 5 this year, an official memo was issued against him stating that several complaints have been made against him and he was warned to remain careful in the future, otherwise strong disciplinary action would be taken against him.

On Aug 7, another official order was issued against him noting "there was a serious allegation against him of uploading the photograph of a blind girl on Facebook from his personal Facebook Id", and he was directed not to visit the school with immediate effect.

Dhirender Singh, who has done M.Com and M.Ed in visual impairment, said the NAB's action was gross violation of the Delhi School Act. The two memos were issued against him without asking his clarification on the allegations, he said.

He sought direction to the association to release or disburse his salary from September onwards.