YADGIR: Two government school teachers in Karnataka’s Yadgir district have been suspended pending departmental inquiry for participating in RSS Patha Sanchalana (route marches), with the education department holding that their participation prima facie violated provisions of the Karnataka Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 2021.The suspension orders were issued on August 20 by Yadgir deputy director of school education Channabasappa Mudhol against Gururaj Joshi, an assistant teacher at Government Girls’ High School in Hunasagi, and Anna Saheb Deshmukh, head teacher of Government Lower Primary School at Kuppi in Surpur taluk.According to the proceedings, the teachers’ participation in RSS route marches amounted to dereliction of duty and violated provisions of the conduct rules, news agency PTI reported.The order said, “Your participation in the RSS Patha Sanchalana prima facie amounts to dereliction of duty and violation of Rules 3(1), 3(2), 3(3), 5(1) and 7 of the KCS Rules.”Teacher’s participation reported in local dailyJoshi was reported to have participated in an RSS Patha Sanchalana held at Talikoti in Vijayapura district on October 12, 2025. A photograph of his participation was published in a local daily, according to the proceedings.A complaint seeking disciplinary action against him was later submitted by Jumanna Gudimani, district president of Ambedkar Swabhimani Sene.The department issued a show-cause notice to Joshi on March 13, 2026. In his written response, he said the programme was held on a Sunday, outside working hours, and was a cultural programme rather than a political one.The department rejected his explanation, saying it could not be accepted under the applicable rules.Joshi was suspended under Rule 10(1) of the Karnataka Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1957, pending a departmental inquiry.He will be entitled to a subsistence allowance under Rule 98 of the Karnataka Civil Services Rules and cannot leave his headquarters without written permission from the competent authority.Second teacher participated in Hunasagi marchIn Deshmukh’s case, the proceedings said he participated in an RSS Patha Sanchalana held at Hunasagi on October 10, 2025.Gudimani had complained to Rural Development and Panchayat Raj and Information Technology Minister Priyank Kharge, who is also the Kalaburagi district in-charge minister, seeking action against Deshmukh.The department issued a show-cause notice to Deshmukh as well. In his written statement, he similarly argued that the RSS programme had taken place outside working hours and was a cultural, rather than political, programme.The department rejected the explanation and ordered his suspension pending departmental inquiry.Both suspension orders state that government employees cannot be members of political parties or organisations involved in politics, associate themselves with such organisations or participate in agitations.The orders also stressed that teachers are expected to serve as role models for society and the Education Department.(With agency inputs)
