‘Making children hate Hindu dharma’: Chhattisgarh Govt school headmistress suspended after probe into conversion activities
The suspended teacher forced the students for conversion and asked them to sing "Hallelujah" instead of India"s national anthem.
Total Views |
A government primary school headmistress in Chhattisgarh’s Janjgir-Champa district has been suspended after villagers accused her of influencing children towards Christianity and allegedly teaching them to disrespect Hindu traditions and deities.
What began as murmurs of concern among parents in a small village in Chhattisgarh’s Janjgir-Champa district has now turned into a major controversy involving allegations of religious conversion, anti-Hindu teachings, and misuse of a government school environment.
According to the suspension order issued by the District Education Officer on May 7, 2026, local residents had accused the headmistress of influencing schoolchildren against Hindu culture, customs, and deities while allegedly encouraging them towards Christianity.
The order stated that complaints received from villagers alleged that children studying in the school were being “misled” and “provoked against Hindu culture and traditions.” The allegations were considered serious enough for police intervention last year.
Based on those complaints, police registered FIR No. 261/2025 under sections linked to disturbing communal harmony and other related offences. Villagers alleged that children were gradually being encouraged to reject Hindu traditions and beliefs. They also claimed students were allegedly being influenced emotionally and ideologically inside the school premises.
Education department probe found truth in allegations
The latest action came after the district education department carried out its own inquiry into the allegations.
According to the suspension order, the department examined both the complaints raised by villagers and the functioning of the school administration. Officials reportedly concluded that the allegations against Lakshmi Devi Bhardwaj appeared prima facie true.
The order described the matter as “serious misconduct” under the Chhattisgarh Civil Services Conduct Rules, 1965. Authorities also stated that a show-cause notice had earlier been issued to the headmistress seeking her explanation, but her response was found unsatisfactory.
Financial irregularities in order
Officials alleged that complete bills and vouchers had not been properly maintained and that some expenses were shown in the names of relatives. The order also mentioned that physical verification of certain expenditures had not been conducted properly.
Immediate suspension ordered
Following the inquiry findings, the District Education Officer ordered the immediate suspension of Lakshmi Devi Bhardwaj under provisions of the Chhattisgarh Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1966.
During the suspension period, her headquarters have been fixed at the office of the Block Education Officer, Baloda. The order also clarified that she would receive a subsistence allowance as per the rules while remaining under suspension.
The incident has triggered strong reactions locally, with several villagers demanding stricter action and a deeper investigation into the allegations surrounding activities inside the government school.
What began as murmurs of concern among parents in a small village in Chhattisgarh’s Janjgir-Champa district has now turned into a major controversy involving allegations of religious conversion, anti-Hindu teachings, and misuse of a government school environment.
Lakshmi Devi Bhardwaj, headmistress of PM Shri Government Primary School in Baloda, was suspended by the district education department on May 11 after an internal inquiry reportedly found prima facie evidence supporting complaints made by villagers against her. The teacher forced the students to sing 'Hallelujah' instead of India's national anthem.
According to the suspension order issued by the District Education Officer on May 7, 2026, local residents had accused the headmistress of influencing schoolchildren against Hindu culture, customs, and deities while allegedly encouraging them towards Christianity.
The order stated that complaints received from villagers alleged that children studying in the school were being “misled” and “provoked against Hindu culture and traditions.” The allegations were considered serious enough for police intervention last year.
BIG UPDATE FROM CHHATTISGARH
— Rashtra Jyoti (@RashtraJyoti) May 10, 2026
Head of a government primary school suspended for converting students into Christianity and instilling Hindu-hate in them
Lakshmi Devi Bhardwaj, a crypto-convert, was headmistress of Government Primary School, Baloda, Jangir-Champa district
Last… pic.twitter.com/VziY4gnhox
FIR was registered last year after villagers approached the police
The matter had first surfaced when villagers lodged a formal complaint at Baloda Police Station, alleging that the headmistress was using her position in the school to influence impressionable children religiously.
Based on those complaints, police registered FIR No. 261/2025 under sections linked to disturbing communal harmony and other related offences. Villagers alleged that children were gradually being encouraged to reject Hindu traditions and beliefs. They also claimed students were allegedly being influenced emotionally and ideologically inside the school premises.
The accused teacher was later granted bail, but the controversy did not fade away within the village.
Education department probe found truth in allegations
The latest action came after the district education department carried out its own inquiry into the allegations.
According to the suspension order, the department examined both the complaints raised by villagers and the functioning of the school administration. Officials reportedly concluded that the allegations against Lakshmi Devi Bhardwaj appeared prima facie true.
The order described the matter as “serious misconduct” under the Chhattisgarh Civil Services Conduct Rules, 1965. Authorities also stated that a show-cause notice had earlier been issued to the headmistress seeking her explanation, but her response was found unsatisfactory.
Financial irregularities in order
Apart from allegations linked to religious conversion and anti-Hindu teachings, the education department also referred to alleged financial irregularities connected to school funds. According to the suspension order, questions were raised over the utilisation of grants received under the School Management Committee and the expenditure records maintained between the financial years 2021-22 and 2023-24.
Officials alleged that complete bills and vouchers had not been properly maintained and that some expenses were shown in the names of relatives. The order also mentioned that physical verification of certain expenditures had not been conducted properly.
Immediate suspension ordered
Following the inquiry findings, the District Education Officer ordered the immediate suspension of Lakshmi Devi Bhardwaj under provisions of the Chhattisgarh Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1966.
During the suspension period, her headquarters have been fixed at the office of the Block Education Officer, Baloda. The order also clarified that she would receive a subsistence allowance as per the rules while remaining under suspension.
The incident has triggered strong reactions locally, with several villagers demanding stricter action and a deeper investigation into the allegations surrounding activities inside the government school.