The row broke out after the acting principal Kanhaiya Sah refused to vacate the position meant for newly appointed principal Hari Nath Sah. [break]
The dispute has led to the padlocking of all classrooms forcing students to study in open air for as long as 18 months.
Students have been deprived of using the modern school building built five years ago after it has been padlocked.
“He (Kanhaiya) has not co-operated with me and later padlocked all the classrooms forcing the students to study in open air despite the school having a concrete building,” said Hari Nath, who came to the school with a transfer letter from the District Education Office (DEO) on August 20, 2009.
Kanhaiya, on the other hand, refuted the allegations arguing that it was not he who padlocked the classrooms. “They are trying to fire me from the post of principal,” he added.
“We have to bear the brunt of the dispute having to study in baking sun. When it rains, we get wet,” rued Lal Bahadur Kunwar, a fifth grader.
“The dust blown away by wind is too much to bear upon for it makes us extremely difficult to learn. How long are we going to endure this?” bemoans Sosita Kumari, a fourth grader in the school.
Teacher Sita Devi said the attendance has gone down dramatically as more students have begun to skip classes and a few of them who ever attend the classes regularly are unable to concentrate in study.
Hari Nath, meanwhile, claimed that Kanaihya has refused to hand over the reins despite the verdict of the Apex Court on February 22.
A meeting of local political leaders, police administration and a DEO representative was called on Sunday to resolve the dispute but it could not make any significant dent, according to Shobha Sharma, DEO representative and resource person at the school.
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