A large delegation of high school students enrolled at the Government Higher Secondary School in the Malhar nagar panchayat of Bilaspur district arrived at the district collectorate to formally register their grievances against chronic mismanagement and alleged misconduct by school authorities. The students, spanning grades 9 through 12, presented an official complaint letter seeking a comprehensive administrative inquiry and appropriate corrective measures against the institutional leadership and select faculty members.
Allegations of Profanity and Intimidation Against the Principal
At the center of the formal complaint is the school's principal, Vedprakash Shukla. Students alleged that the administrator routinely employs abusive and profane language when interacting with the student body. According to the pupils, even basic and routine requests, such as seeking permission to visit the washroom, have been met with verbal insults. Furthermore, students stated that whenever anyone attempted to voice concern regarding deficient conditions or unfair treatment, they were threatened with disciplinary consequences and academic harm to suppress dissent.
Hostile Environment and Public Demeanour in Classrooms
Expanding on the prevailing atmosphere within the premises, student Gomti Kaiwart stated that the principal has repeatedly used vulgar language in full view of other faculty members. She added that on certain occasions, educators themselves were subjected to harsh language in the presence of students. The delegation pointed out that such recurring conduct has fostered an atmosphere of intimidation and dread, severely undermining the morale of students and compromising the educational decorum expected of a public institution.
Questions Over Unauthorized Fees and Unsigned Receipts
Financial transparency within the institution was another primary focus of the petition. The students stated that the administration has been collecting fees in excess of the legally prescribed government rates. Compounding their concerns, the official receipts distributed to fee-paying students lacked the mandatory signature of the principal. The delegation urged district authorities to audit these financial transactions and clarify precisely how the collected funds were categorized, allocated, and spent.
Deprivation of Sanitary Pads and Administrative Neglect
Female students highlighted severe negligence regarding essential hygiene support legally mandated by state health initiatives. Student Princy Kant stated that despite official government provisions ensuring free sanitary pads for schoolgirls, the supplies are rarely accessible during emergencies. The complaint document described an incident in which a student left in tears after her direct request for a sanitary napkin went unfulfilled. Students noted that following informal complaints, the school administration merely reassigned the task to a different staff member rather than rectifying the underlying supply failures.
Dilapidated Toilets, Scorpion Bite Incident, and Inadequate Amenities
Physical infrastructure within the school compound was reported to be in a state of severe neglect. The petition noted that an older toilet facility had remained locked and inaccessible for an extended period. Meanwhile, inside a newly constructed restroom, a student was allegedly stung by a scorpion due to poor maintenance and unaddressed environmental hazards. Inside the classrooms, ceiling fans frequently stay inoperative, leaving students without basic comfort during school hours.
Absenteeism and Class Disruptions Impacting Studies
The memorandum also raised serious alarms regarding academic standards and discipline among staff members. Students asserted that on days when the principal is absent from campus, standard morning assemblies and scheduled classes collapse entirely. Several educators were accused of attending to personal matters during assigned lecture hours and departing the campus premises well ahead of dismissal time. The children emphasized that this systemic laxity directly sabotages their instructional hours and academic progress.
Named Personnel and Demands for Safe Learning Conditions
The complaint letters submitted to the district collector and the inspecting officer explicitly enumerated several staff members, including Principal Vedprakash Shukla, teachers Rasheed Gupta, Sangeeta Yadav, Smriti Verma, Sandhya Dewangan, Kajal Son, Sanjay Dubey, and Netam Sir, along with peon Kamlesh Tande. The veracity of these allegations has not been independently verified by investigating authorities. The students requested that their personal identities remain confidential to shield them from administrative retaliation, urging authorities to restore a secure, dignified, and fear-free learning environment so they can pursue their education unhindered.
