A government primary school headmaster in Odisha’s Kendrapara district has been suspended after allegedly consuming alc@hol during duty hours, locking the school gate while around 35 students were inside and falling asleep.
The incident took place on September 8 at Ambura Government Primary School in Derabish block, where the headmaster, Sunakar Nayak, was reportedly the only teacher present as the other teacher was on leave. The frightened children raised an alarm, prompting local residents to unlock the gate and rescue them.
Following public outrage and the circulation of photographs of the alleged misconduct on social media, education officials conducted a departmental inquiry and found the allegations substantiated.
Derabish Block Education Officer Madan Mohan Kar said such conduct was “highly unbecoming” of a member of the teaching profession. Local representatives and villagers also demanded strict action, while the headmaster’s suspension is the latest official development.
35 Children, Two Teachers
Ambura Government Primary School in Ambura village, under Kurujanga Gram Panchayat, has around 35 students from Classes I to V and only two teachers, including Nayak. On Tuesday, September 8, the second teacher was reportedly on leave, leaving Nayak responsible for the children.
According to reports, he allegedly consumed alc@hol and food on the school premises before locking the main entrance. The children reportedly realised they were trapped and began crying for help. Hearing their cries, local residents reached the school, opened the gate and brought the children out.
The incident has raised serious questions about the safety of young students, particularly in schools where staffing is already limited. Parents and guardians reportedly demanded stringent action after details and photographs of the alleged misconduct circulated online.
Inquiry Leads To Suspension
The education department moved after the incident came to light. Derabish Block Education Officer Madan Mohan Kar visited the school and conducted an inquiry. According to Kar, the investigation found that Nayak had frequently attended school in an inebriated condition and that, on the day in question, he allegedly consumed alc@hol on the premises and illegally locked the main entrance.
Kar said such behaviour was highly unbecoming of a school head, following which Nayak was suspended. Local representatives, including Kurujanga sarpanch Manasi Das and panchayat samiti member Krushna Chandra Sahoo, along with villagers, also sought strict action.
Social worker Biswanath Behera separately linked the episode to concerns over the availability of illicit alc@hol in rural areas, though that broader claim is an allegation and is not part of the departmental findings reported so far.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
A school should be one of the safest spaces for children, and the responsibility becomes even greater when a teacher is the only adult available to supervise them. Allegedly consuming alcohol during duty hours and leaving children locked inside, if established as reported, represents not merely professional misconduct but a serious failure of responsibility towards young students who depend on adults for their safety. The swift departmental inquiry and suspension are important steps, but accountability should also be accompanied by safeguards that ensure children are never left without responsible supervision.
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