The principal and a teacher of a government girls school in Punjab’s Fazilka district have been suspended for allegedly stripping some students to check who was wearing a sanitary pad, after a soiled one was found in the school toilet, an official spokesperson said on Tuesday.

The orders were issued on Monday night after Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh received an inquiry report, which found the incident to be a case of “gross negligence, indifference and insensitivity” on the part of the teachers of the school, he said.

School headmaster Kuldeep Kaur and teacher Jyoti have been suspended on the directives of the chief minister, the spokesperson said.

Charges will also be issued under Rule 8 of the Conduct Rules against the Principal and teacher, who have been placed under suspension, he said.

Taking serious note of the alleged stripping of girl students Punjab CM Amarinder Singh on Saturday had already ordered transfer of two teachers of the government school in Fazilka and ordered inquiry.

The CM has also directed secretary education, Krishan Kumar to complete the investigation into the incident by Monday and take further action as necessary.

The incident was brought to the notice of Amarinder after a video showed girl students of Government Girls School in Kundal village of Fazilka district, crying and complaining that they had been stripped by the teachers in the school premises. The teachers were reportedly trying to find out which of the girls was wearing a sanitary pad, after one was found in the school toilet.

Instead of educating the girls about proper disposal of the pads, the teachers decided to strip them, the CM was informed, prompting him to issue prompt and stringent orders for immediate action.

The district education officer was asked to visit the school and, on questioning the students and their parents, found prima facie evidence of the involvement of the two teachers.

Based on this, Amarinder asked the education secretary to immediately issue orders transferring the teachers out of the school on administrative grounds.

Further disciplinary action, as per conduct rules, will be taken once the formal report is received after recording the statement of the students, said an official spokesperson.

The CM had asked the education secretary to personally monitor the investigation and update him with the final inquiry report on Monday.

(With agency inputs)