Bombay High Court Upholds Dismissal of Teacher Who Sent Romantic Messages to Students

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has upheld the dismissal of a probationary assistant teacher accused of sending romantic messages to schoolgirls via WhatsApp. The court rejected the teacher’s appeal against the decision of the school tribunal, emphasizing that the school management was fully justified in taking strict action.

Serious Misconduct
Justice Som Shekhar Sundaran observed that the case was serious, noting complaints from both parents and the local community regarding the teacher’s conduct. “The teacher’s inappropriate behavior provides the school management with sufficient grounds to dismiss him. In such matters, a zero-tolerance policy by the school is entirely justified,” the court stated.

The teacher had been appointed as a probationary assistant teacher for a period of three years on 29 February 2020 at a school in Raigad district.

Written Apology Not Sufficient
In December 2022, the school became aware of messages sent by the teacher to certain female students. While the teacher submitted a written apology, the parents were not satisfied, and the school subsequently terminated his employment. The teacher then challenged the school tribunal’s rejection of his appeal in August 2024, which was now dismissed by the High Court.

School’s Zero-Tolerance Policy Affirmed
The teacher’s lawyer argued that since the teacher had completed his probation period, he should have been treated as a permanent employee and given an opportunity to present his case. Justice Sundaran responded that to prevent future issues, the school management has the right to implement a zero-tolerance policy in such matters. The management was entitled to end the probation by giving one month’s notice and salary.

The verdict reinforces that schools have the authority to enforce strict disciplinary measures against staff engaging in misconduct, especially when it involves students.