‘A victory for every teacher’: Cockroach Janta Party after teacher suspended over attending protest gets job back
According to a claim made by a CJP spokesperson, the suspension order issued against Sulekha Dalal was revoked shortly after the party condemned the move
According to a claim made by a CJP spokesperson, the suspension order issued against Sulekha Dalal was revoked shortly after the party condemned the move. Dalal, a Haryana teacher and supporter of the party, had attended a demonstration organised by the CJP at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on June 6. The suspension notice was issued on Wednesday (June 10), days after the protest. However, the party later announced that the order had been withdrawn. CJP Claims Suspension Was Revoked Sharing the update on social media platform X, CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said the decision marked a victory for those defending democratic rights. “Very happy to inform you all that Sulekha Dalal’s suspension was revoked about 40 minutes ago. Better sense has prevailed. This is a victory for every teacher, student and citizen who believes that no one should be punished for peacefully standing with the youth and asking questions,” CJP spokesperson Saurav Das wrote on X. Also Read | I asked ChatGPT to plan a ₹25,000 adventurous trip from Delhi to Manali The claim quickly drew attention online, with supporters of the party hailing the development as a win for freedom of expression and peaceful participation in public demonstrations.
Why Was Dalal Suspended? As previously reported by HT, the suspension order was issued by district elementary education officer (DEEO) Bijender Hooda. According to the order, Dalal was suspended from June 8 for allegedly violating conduct rules by attending the event without obtaining prior permission from the competent authority. The suspension order further stated that she would not be allowed to leave her headquarters without prior approval while the matter remained under consideration. Dalal, however, questioned the action and alleged that the suspension was linked to her participation in the June 6 protest organised by the CJP in the national capital. She maintained that her decision to attend the demonstration was driven by concerns over students affected by alleged irregularities in competitive examinations. As the mother of a 21-year-old student preparing for competitive exams, Dalal said she felt compelled to join others demanding accountability. Party Calls Action An Attack On Constitutional Rights Soon after news of the suspension emerged, the CJP's official communications handle released a strongly worded statement criticising the decision.
The party described the action as “an attack on the constitutional right of every citizen to speak, assemble, question and dissent”. “No teacher should be punished for standing with the youth of this country," the statement added. "No citizen should be made to choose between their livelihood and their conscience. And no government should be so insecure that it treats peaceful participation in a public protest as misconduct.” The party also demanded greater transparency regarding the grounds on which the suspension had been issued. “The authorities must also make public the exact grounds for the action taken against her. Vague references to “conduct rules” cannot become a weapon to punish dissent," the party asserted. The statement further argued that the right to protest, question authority and stand with vulnerable groups are constitutional guarantees rather than privileges granted by the State. Dalal Planned Legal Challenge Dalal had earlier indicated that she intended to challenge the suspension order in court, arguing that it failed to clearly explain the reasons behind the disciplinary action.
