Residents lock up Vellore school after principal-teacher dispute

The incident in the panchayat union primary school at Erikuthi village near Pernambut on Wednesday happened when headmistress Thirumalaiselvi and teacher Bhuvanadevi engaged in a heated abuse-laden quarrel unmindful of the students there, sources said. The quarrel is believed to have erupted out of previous enmity.

According to sources, although Bhuvanadevi was transferred to the panchayat school this year, the enmity between her and headmistress Thirumalaiselvi is said to be from more than seven years ago when they both worked in the same school in Pernambut. The tiff on Wednesday reportedly occurred when Bhuvanadevi held classes in a room with a fan which was usually used by Thirumalaiselvai. The latter then ordered Bhuvanadevi to conduct classes in another room. However, when the teacher refused, it resulted in a verbal duel in which the choicest abusive words were used, locals present there said. It was then that locals locked the school up and informed officials which led to the enquiry by the block education officer.

A report has been forwarded to Vellore CEO S Mars through the Vaniyambadi DEO, and further action is awaited as locals reportedly want both teachers to be shifted from the school.