A senior school teacher in India’s Rajasthan state has been suspended after being accused of forcing female students to remove their clothes during a search for missing money, triggering protests by parents and an official investigation.
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According to Indian media reports, the incident occurred at a government school in a village in Sawai Madhopur district. The teacher allegedly claimed that ₹1,000 had gone missing and ordered students from grades 9 and 11 to undergo a search, during which they were reportedly asked to remove their clothing.
The allegations sparked outrage among parents, who gathered at the school in protest and temporarily blocked its main entrance, demanding action against those responsible.
Following complaints, the state education department launched an inquiry into the incident. Based on the preliminary findings, senior Hindi teacher Saraswati Meena was suspended from her position.
Authorities also initiated disciplinary proceedings against the school’s principal, issuing a formal notice as part of the ongoing investigation into the matter.
The accused teacher has denied the allegations, maintaining that she merely questioned the students after discovering that the money was missing. She rejected claims that the girls were forced to remove their clothes, describing the accusations as baseless.
The teacher stated that, as a female educator, she considered it appropriate to question the students herself while trying to determine what had happened to the missing money.
The incident has reignited concerns in India over student rights, school discipline and the treatment of children in educational institutions. Child rights advocates have repeatedly stressed that any search involving minors must respect their dignity, privacy and legal protections.
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Education authorities have not yet released the final findings of the investigation. Officials say disciplinary action will be taken based on the outcome of the inquiry, while parents continue to demand accountability and safeguards to prevent similar incidents in schools.