Woman Expelled Because She Gives Birth Four Months After Marriage

A recent case of a teacher being expelled following the birth of her baby after just four months of her marriage came to light in Kerala. A pre-primary teacher in a Government school in Kottakkal approached the police and reported that she was not allowed to attend the school after she rejoined post her maternity leave. The reason she cited for this was that she gave birth after four months of her marriage. She has also alleged that the parent-teacher association too supported the school authority in their decision. Moreover, she has also allegedly accused them of abusing her verbally at a PTA meeting. The Kottakkal Police has filed the report and will be recording the statement of the 33-year-old teacher today.

She has also approached the child rights commission seeking strict action against the school authorities. However,  the headmaster and PTA office-bearers, however, were not ready to follow the DDE’s direction.

She has also approached the Child Rights Commission seeking strict action against the school authorities. However, the headmaster and PTA office-bearers, however, were not ready to follow the DDE’s direction.

In the complaint filed by the woman, she put forth that she has been working in the school for the past five years. She was divorced after her first marriage. After being divorced for some time, she was then preparing for her second marriage. Since the divorce proceedings of her first marriage were getting delayed, she started living with her second husband, even before tying the knot. The couple got married legally in June 2018. She applied for maternity leaves four months after the marriage. The second day after she applied for the maternity leave, she gave birth to a baby.

The woman’s leave ended in January 2019. She complained that when she returned in January, the school authorities did not allow her to rejoin the school as she had applied for maternity leave just after four months of her marriage, and that she gave birth on the second day of her maternity leave.

“We approached the school authorities citing the direction from DDE (Deputy Director of Education). They convened a meeting, in which they verbally insulted me, besides refusing to allow me to rejoin. I filed a police complaint on June 14. Moreover, the school authorities do not have a right to discuss my personal life in the PTA Meeting. I don’t know why they are bothered about my personal life and my maternity period.” the teacher told Times of India.

Shehas also approached the Child Rights Commission seeking strict action against the school authorities. And so, the commission has sought clarification from the Deputy Director of Education over his behaviour and the action taken by the school authority. After the summer vacation ended, the DDE completed its inquiry and issued a notice to the school authorities asking them to allow the woman to rejoin the service. However, the headmaster and PTA office-bearers, however, were not ready to follow the DDE’s direction.

“We have started an investigation against the school authorities based on the complaint and a case would be registered after recording her statement,” said Sub-Inspector of Kottakkal Police Station Sandhya Devi.

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