Government School in Coimbatore Hit by Allegations of Religious and Physical Harassment by Headmistress

Hindu Voice Team: A serious controversy has erupted at the Government Higher Secondary School in Kallapalayam, Sulur, after several girl students accused their headmistress, identified as Deva Kiruba Jayakrishnan, of enforcing discriminatory rules against Hindu cultural symbols and physically assaulting students for minor delays and perceived infractions.

In video testimonies recorded by local media, multiple students alleged that the headmistress repeatedly made Hindu girls remove traditional symbols such as bindis, kumkum, sandal paste and flowers before entering classrooms. One student said she was forced to wash her face to remove these symbols and was beaten “a lot unnecessarily.”

Students also claimed physical punishment for trivial delays. One Class 11 student said she was beaten inside the staff room after returning late from the restroom — despite the school having only one usable toilet for around 150 girls. Another student described being reprimanded for returning even five minutes late after eating. The headmistress reportedly told students to stay silent about the beatings, dismissing their complaints as “small issues.”

Parents have echoed the allegations of harassment and humiliation. One mother said her daughter came home with her forehead forcibly wiped clean, while another said her child was made to walk barefoot after having her slippers confiscated.

In response to the students’ complaints, a formal petition was submitted to the District Collector, demanding the removal of the headmistress and citing treatment described as akin to untouchability, repeated physical assault, and coercion against religious expression.

As of now, authorities have not issued an official statement regarding the allegations, and the matter remains under scrutiny.

(The above piece is written based on a report published by The Commune. You can read the original piece HERE )