Archive · 5 Sep 2026
Teacher Suspended, FIR Lodged Over Student’s Tilak Dispute in Bengal
A Class V student went to school wearing a sandalwood mark called a tilak.
The student’s family said a teacher repeatedly objected to it.
They alleged that the teacher made the student wash the tilak off and felt the child was humiliated.
The school suspended the teacher while an inquiry is pending.
Police registered an FIR under a law concerning insults to religious beliefs.
The school said the teacher only asked the student to wash because the tilak had spread across the face.
The issue became public after complaints and social media reports.
Suvendu Adhikari said such incidents would not be allowed in West Bengal.
Suvendu Adhikari said police had been directed to file an FIR against a suspended teacher.
The teacher allegedly harassed a Class V student over wearing a sandalwood tilak to school.
The student was allegedly forced to remove the tilak and wash their face before class.
The incident reportedly occurred at Holy Mission English Medium School in New Alipore, South Kolkata.
The school called the matter a misunderstanding, saying the tilak had smeared across the student’s face.
- Who
- A Class V student, the suspended teacher, the student’s parents, Suvendu Adhikari, and school officials are involved.
- What
- A teacher was suspended and an FIR was registered after allegations that she pressured a student to remove a sandalwood tilak.
- When
- The incident was reported to have occurred the previous Wednesday; the suspension and FIR were announced on Friday.
- Where
- Holy Mission English Medium School in New Alipore, South Kolkata, West Bengal.
- Why
- The student’s parents alleged that the teacher hurt the child’s religious sentiments; the school said the episode was a misunderstanding.
Student and Government Account
School’s Account
What happened to the tilak
Student and Government Account
Suvendu Adhikari and the student’s family alleged that the teacher repeatedly harassed the student and forced the child to remove the tilak and wash their face.
School’s Account
A school official said the teacher only asked the student to wash because the tilak had smeared across the student’s face, and that she did not intend to hurt religious sentiments.
Appropriateness of the suspension
Student and Government Account
The school suspended the teacher after the district inspector’s office directed it to take action, while police registered an FIR.
School’s Account
A headmaster from another school said the teacher should have been consulted before action was taken and that it should first have been established whether religious sentiments were hurt.
Nature of the incident
Student and Government Account
The allegations described the conduct as repeated humiliation or torture connected to the student’s religious expression.
School’s Account
The school characterized the episode as a misunderstanding rather than intentional religious insult.
- School
- Holy Mission English Medium School
- Location
- New Alipore, South Kolkata, West Bengal
- Student
- Class V student wearing a sandalwood tilak
- Action against teacher
- Suspended pending a disciplinary inquiry
- Police action
- FIR registered at New Alipore police station
- Legal provision
- Section 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
- School’s explanation
- The teacher said the tilak had smeared across the student’s face
