Four teachers of the Government High School at Arumparthapuram were suspended by the Department of School Education on Thursday for allegedly misusing the school computer for watching pornographic material and sexually harassing students by forcing them to watch it.
Trained Graduate Teachers (TGT) of Social Science, Jude Anbazhagan and N Sivakumar, M Abdul Malik, TGT of Science, and Physical Education Teacher A Rashid Mohammed have been placed under suspension based on a complaint received by the school authorities from the Parent Teachers Association (PTA).
Following a complaint filed against Abdul Malik on Thursday morning, he was suspended. He, however, did not figure in the list of teachers transferred from the government school on Wednesday.
It is said that one of the teachers was earlier involved in a similar act when he was posted in a Government High School in Katerikuppam. However, after a complaint, he was transferred to Arumparthapuram, reliable sources said. Due to lack of evidence then, no action could be taken by the School Education Department.
However, this time, the PTA had collected all the data from the computer accessed by the four teachers. Evidence, including data such as content previewed, the website, time and duration of the video, had been secured before lodging the complaint.
It was based on the evidence produced by the PTA that the four teachers were placed under suspension, said E Vallavan, Director, School Education.
The department would initiate an inquiry after issuing a showcause notice to them, he added. Minister for Power and Education T Thiagarajan promised that stringent action would be taken.
Only two months ago, J Harishkrishnan (50), a teacher, was arrested on charges of molesting a Class III girl student of Irulanchanthai government primary school.