Jajpur: Teacher suspended for violation of poll code

Jajpur: The Jajpur district administration placed a teacher of a government-run school under suspension on the charge of breaching model code of conduct, which has come into force in Dharmasala area for Zilla Parishad byelection.

Jajpur Collector Chakravarti Singh Rathore suspended Sadhana Bhanja, Head Mistress in-charge of Bajragiri Project Upper Primary School in Dharmasala block after she allegedly participated in the birthday celebration of Dharmasala legislator Pranab Kumar Balabantray in her school.

The Dharmasala BJD’s youth and student wings celebrated local MLA Pranab Balabantray’s birthday at Bajragiri Nodal UP School in Kotapur gram panchayat on July 23 in the absence of Balabantaray. Though it was a Sunday, students and teachers, including the Head Mistress in-charge, attended the school with their uniforms to participate in birthday celebrations. The MLA’s supporters displayed a banner in the school building which carried a photograph of Balabantaray with ‘Happy Birthday Bhai’ written on it.

After the incident came to light, Dharmasala Congress had alleged breach of model code of conduct as the venue of the birthday celebration comes under the Zone No. 15 of the local Zilla Parishad which will witness by-election on August 9.

Based on the allegation, Jajpur in-charge DEO Rajesh Kumar Swain had served a show-cause notice to the Head Mistress and directed the Dharmasala Block Education officer to submit a report on the incident.