Srinagar, June 20, KNT: In a strong rebuttal to recent media reports circulating across television channels and social media platforms, the Principal of Tyndale Biscoe & Mallinson School (TBMS), here in Srinagar, has issued a detailed clarification, dismissing as “baseless and misleading” the allegations of harassment levelled by a female teacher who recently resigned from one of the institutions run by TBMS.
The management took exception to the manner in which the teacher’s resignation was portrayed, suggesting that she was subjected to harassment by a male academic supervisor. “This portrayal is factually incorrect and grossly misleading,” the school said in a statement, firmly clarifying that the supervisor in question is, in fact, a female, not male, as projected by certain media houses.
“The teacher has stated a highly distorted factual position in her resignation, apparently aimed at maligning the unblemished image of TBMS, its management and faculty,” reads the statement issued by the Principal. “The resignation letter available with the school management clearly mentions the supervisor’s gender as female.”
The school further alleged that certain news outlets, for the sake of TRP and sensationalism, aired the resignation as a case of male-female harassment without conducting any factual verification. The principal emphasized that the teacher never submitted any written complaint or grievance during her tenure, and that her accusations emerged only at the time of resignation.
“She not only resigned with vexatious allegations but also circulated the letter across social media and various government authorities. This action, clearly intended to defame the school, was entirely unjustified,” the statement adds.
The management also revealed that an internal inquiry was conducted following the resignation, which brought to light that the teacher had unauthorisedly removed lesson plans belonging to other faculty members, not just her own. This act of indiscipline led the Academic Supervisor, also a female, to seek an explanation. “Had this insubordination not occurred, there would have been no occasion for any disciplinary feedback from the supervisor,” the Principal noted.
The statement further pointed out that the teacher was asked to appear before the school management to explain her allegations, but she did not respond or attend the scheduled meeting. “Her silence and non-compliance in defending her claims confirm the baselessness of the accusations made,” the statement added.
TBMS has strongly urged all media houses and digital platforms to rectify their reports in light of this clarification. “The false portrayal of the supervisor’s gender and unverified airing of resignation-related claims have caused irreparable damage to the institution’s hard-earned reputation,” the statement read.
The school has called for responsible journalism, reminding journalists particulary social media hawkers to verify facts before publishing stories, especially when reputations of individuals and institutions are at stake.
“This rebuttal from TBMS, issued directly by the Principal, seeks to bring clarity to the public and protect the dignity of its educational environment, which has always upheld the highest standards of professional conduct, an official from the school told the news agency Kashmir News Trust. [KNT]
