Chandigarh teacher showed kids pornographic sites: Parents

Chandigarh, Nov 5 : Parents of a child studying in a private school here Thursday filed a complaint with the union territory authorities alleging that a teacher of the school was showing kids pornographic websites. The UT education department has asked the school to respond to the allegations.

T.K. Goyal and Meeta Goyal, parents of a Class 7 student of St Johns High School, Thursday submitted a written complaint in this regard to the union territory Home-cum-Education Secretary Ram Niwas.

In their complaint, the couple alleged that the arts teacher of the school, Michaelongelo Francis, had shown to students pornographic websites on his mobile and laptop.

They also alleged that Francis was forcing students to bring mobile phones to school and asking them to join adult communities on the internet.

"After receiving the complaint, the education secretary has directed the district education officer (DEO) to look into the matter. The DEO has directed the school to furnish detailed comments over the allegations levelled by the parents, in the next two days," a senior official of union territory education department told IANS here Thursday evening.

Parents of the child had submitted a separate complaint to the school principal Nov 3.

School authorities maintained that they had already initiated a probe into this matter.

"We have already initiated our probe and designated an inquiry officer. We have told the complainant to produce all proofs that he has in front of the school's managing committee in the next 24 hours," said Kavita C. Das, school principal, in a statement issued here Thursday evening.

She added: "Michaelangelo had submitted his reply today (Thursday) in which he had point wise, categorically denied all the allegations. He has voluntarily proceeded on leave so that the school management can conduct a free and fair inquiry."