Archive · 14 Sep 2026
Allahabad High Court Halts Sambhal Teacher’s Suspension Pending Inquiry
A teacher in Sambhal was suspended after allegations about religious activities involving students.
Reports said some girls wore hijabs and some boys wore skull caps at the school.
Students were also allegedly asked to recite an Urdu verse before morning prayers.
The teacher denied the allegations.
He said he was in hospital or on approved medical leave at the time.
Government lawyers said records showed he was present during some relevant prayer services.
The Allahabad High Court did not decide who was telling the truth.
Instead, it paused the suspension while an official departmental inquiry takes place.
The court said the inquiry should preferably finish within 15 days.
The Allahabad High Court put Mohammed Anzar Ahmad’s suspension on hold while a departmental inquiry proceeds.
Ahmad was accused of allowing or forcing students at a Sambhal government school to participate in Islamic religious practices.
Allegations included girls wearing hijabs, boys wearing skull caps, and students reciting Muhammad Iqbal’s Urdu verse before morning prayers.
Ahmad denied the allegations, saying he was on sanctioned medical leave and absent when the activities allegedly occurred.
The court did not rule on the allegations, ordered the inquiry to finish preferably within 15 days, and directed authorities to provide relevant documents within three days.
- Who
- Mohammed Anzar Ahmad, a teacher who had served as an in-charge headmaster, challenged his suspension.
- What
- The Allahabad High Court kept Ahmad’s suspension in abeyance pending a departmental inquiry into alleged religious practices involving students.
- When
- The court issued its order on September 7; the suspension order was dated May 10, 2026, and a chargesheet was dated September 3.
- Where
- A government school in Sambhal district, Uttar Pradesh.
- Why
- Ahmad challenged the suspension, denying the allegations and arguing that he was on sanctioned medical leave when the alleged activities occurred.
Teacher’s Position
Education Authorities’ Position
Presence during alleged activities
Teacher’s Position
Ahmad’s counsel said he was hospitalized or on sanctioned medical leave and was not present when the alleged prayer-related activities took place.
Education Authorities’ Position
The authorities said records accompanying the chargesheet showed Ahmad at prayer services before November 14, 2025, when students were allegedly performing the activities.
Nature of the school activities
Teacher’s Position
Ahmad denied the allegations and disputed the authorities’ interpretation of the records and events.
Education Authorities’ Position
Authorities alleged that students were participating in Islamic prayers and wearing clothing indicating affiliation with a particular community; other reports specified hijabs, skull caps, and an Urdu verse.
Disciplinary penalty
Teacher’s Position
Ahmad argued that the allegations did not warrant a major penalty and that the suspension was unlawful.
Education Authorities’ Position
The education authorities served him with a chargesheet and pursued a departmental inquiry into the allegations.
- Court
- Allahabad High Court
- Judge
- Justice Manju Rani Chauhan
- Teacher
- Mohammed Anzar Ahmad
- Suspension order
- Dated May 10, 2026
- Inquiry timeline
- To be completed preferably within 15 days of the September 7 order
- Allegations
- Students allegedly took part in Islamic prayers or related practices, including wearing hijabs and skull caps and reciting an Urdu verse
- Court’s ruling
- The suspension remains on hold until the inquiry concludes and will follow its final outcome
- Document deadline
- Relevant documents must be supplied to Ahmad within three days
