Karimnagar: The TRS government intentionally suspended Lateef Mohammad Khan, headmaster of the Nampally government school, for questioning Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao for not fulfilling his poll promises, alleged members of the Civil Liberties Committee, speaking to press persons in a press meet held here in Karimnagar on Monday.
They said that from the past several years, Mr Lateef Khan was rendering services not only as a government teacher but also as a social activist for the cause of justice and against violations of civil liberties of citizens, irrespective of their religion, caste and social standing.
As a responsible citizen, he had questioned Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao for not fulfilling the poll promises he has made to people before going to the elections in 2014 and posted the same on various social media platforms.
Treating this as a crime and against the rules, the TRS government has issued suspension orders on Mr Lateef Khan through the Education Department, they alleged.
The action taken against Mr Lateef Khan by the TRS government is a classic example of the violation of the principles of natural justice.
Article 19 of the Indian Constitution provides every citizen, the right to freedom of speech and expression and is not only meant to express laurels for the authorities but also to criticise them for their irresponsible actions.
The Education Department was becoming a tool in the hands of government and was acting in an unreasonable manner, they added.
Police officials of Jaipur police station had also arrested about 34 government teachers who had gone on a study tour to Kaleshwaram to study the project.
They appealed to intellectuals, civil rights groups and other organisations to support Mr Lateef Khan to protect the true spirit of democracy and demanded that government withdraw the suspension orders issued against Mr Lateef Khan immediately.
CLC state joint secretary Madava Kumara Swamy, district unit president J.A.V Prasad, general secretary Anugu Malla Reddy, Dalit Liberation Forum president Marwadi Sudarshan, and CLC member P. Rajesham were among those who were present at the press meet.
