Karnataka Education Dept issues notice to teachers for taking part in RSS march

Bengaluru, Oct 30 The Congress-led government in Karnataka, on Thursday, continued the crackdown on government staffers for identifying with the Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and taking part in foot marches across the state.

The development of notices being issued to four teachers from Aurad taluk in Bidar district in the state for participating in an RSS foot march by authorities has come to light.

The Aurad Block Education Officer (BEO) issued the notices asking them to explain their participation.

The RSS foot march had taken place in Aurad on October 7 and 13.

Teachers named Mahadev, Shalivan, Prakash, and Satish had participated in it.

On October 27, Dalit Sena leaders submitted a complaint to the BEO demanding action against the teachers.

The very next day, on Tuesday, the BEO issued show cause notices to all four teachers.

The notice said: "You are found to have participated in the RSS foot march held in Aurad taluk of Bidar district on October 7 and 13. Videos and photographs of your participation have been widely circulated on social media. Being government employees, you are prohibited from taking part in any political or religious activities.

"Hence, upon receiving this notice, you are directed to submit a written explanation and appear in person before this office. Failing to do so will result in unilateral action being taken against you under the Karnataka Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1957," it added.

The state government authorities have started issuing notices to government staffers for identifying with the RSS following the letter written by Minister Priyank Kharge to ban RSS activities in public places.

He had also written another letter specifically urging the state government to initiate action against government employees who identify and give donations to the RSS.

Following the government's action, the state has passed an order making it mandatory for all private organisations to obtain permission from authorities to conduct activities in public places and government-owned premises.

In a setback to the Congress-led government, the High Court Kalaburagi bench had stayed this order.

The state government has said that it would appeal against the court order.

The Karnataka Administrative Tribunal (KAT), on Thursday, stayed the Congress-led government's order suspending a Panchayat Development Officer (PDO) for participating in a foot march organised by the RSS.

The KAT has issued a stay order over the suspension order of PDO Praveen Kumar.

The authorities have suspended him for taking part in the RSS foot march in Lingasagur of Raichur district.

The PDO had questioned his suspension in the KAT and claimed that his suspension is against the law and done due to political pressure.

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