A headmistress of a government primary school in Chhattisgarh has been suspended, and an assistant teacher faces termination proceedings after a single missing letter in a Class 4 exam question triggered major controversy and allegations of hurting religious sentiments.
The Controversial Question and Immediate Fallout
The incident occurred during the half-yearly examinations held last week at a government primary school in Nakti, located in the Tilda Block of Raipur district. The headmistress, who set the English question paper, included a multiple-choice question asking, "What is the name of Mona’s dog?" Among the options provided was the word "Ram."
This detail quickly surfaced on social media platforms, drawing the attention of right-wing groups. Organizations including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bajrang Dal submitted a formal written complaint to the Collector and the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Mahasamund district, demanding strict action.
Legal Action and Official Inquiry
Acting on the complaint, the police registered a First Information Report (FIR) last week against unknown persons. The case was filed under Section 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which pertains to deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings. This section is notably non-bailable.
Concurrently, the District Education Officer (DEO) for Raipur, Himanshu Bhartiya, initiated a formal inquiry. A five-member committee was constituted to investigate the matter thoroughly. In an official press statement, the education officer clarified the stance, stating, "Ram is a revered deity of the Hindu religion, and including ‘Ram’ as an option [for the answer] has hurt religious sentiments."
Suspensions, Apologies, and Disciplinary Measures
The inquiry pinpointed the headmistress as the paper setter, leading to her suspension on Saturday, January 11, 2026. In her defense, the headmistress explained that the intended option was "Ramu," but a typographical error led to the omission of the letter 'U'. She expressed deep regret, asserting she had no intention to insult any religion or community.
The scrutiny also extended to the paper's moderator, an assistant teacher working on a contractual basis. She stated that while preparing the final question paper from two sets, she overlooked the erroneous option. She apologized and termed it an unintentional mistake.
As a result, proceedings to terminate her services are now underway. Furthermore, the District Education Officer issued warning letters to the Block Education Officer of Tilda for allegedly failing to select an experienced paper setter, and to the school principal for not ensuring proper moderation.
This case highlights the heightened sensitivities around religious symbols in India and the severe administrative consequences that can follow from an oversight in an educational setting.
