Authorities in the Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir have suspended the entire nine-member staff of the Government Middle School in Krawah, Zone Banihal, following an incident where a Class VII student was accidentally locked inside a classroom. The boy remained trapped for over four hours after falling asleep on the last working day before the commencement of the 15-day summer vacation. Officials confirmed the development on Monday, stating that an inquiry has been initiated into the gross negligence and dereliction of duty.
The alarming incident occurred on July 4, 2026, when the student was discovered locked inside the school premises around 8 pm, long after the official closing hours and just prior to the scheduled summer break. As per information available with Tahir Rihat, the student was eventually rescued by a passerby who heard his cries for help. The passerby subsequently freed the boy from the locked classroom and recorded a video of the event, which later gained traction on social media platforms, prompting swift action from the education department.
Taking a serious view of the matter, the Chief Education Officer (CEO) of Ramban ordered an immediate inquiry, deeming the lapse a potential endangerment to the child’s life and safety. The official order explicitly described the event as a significant failure in the responsibility for student supervision and security. In accordance with Rule 31 of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1956, all employees of the Government Middle School, Krawah, have been placed under suspension with immediate effect pending the outcome of the investigation. During this suspension period, the staff members will remain assigned to the same school until further directives are issued.
To conduct a thorough and impartial examination of the circumstances that led to the student being locked in, the CEO has constituted a three-member inquiry committee. This committee comprises the Principal of Higher Secondary School Girls Banihal, who will serve as the Chairperson, the Zonal Education Officer of Banihal, and the Headmaster of High School Bankoot. The committee has been tasked with identifying the individuals responsible for the oversight and submitting a comprehensive report, complete with recommendations, to the CEO’s office within a three-day timeframe. Officials noted that the school has a staff of six teachers, including a headmaster, and three supporting staff members. The incident has raised serious questions about the safety protocols and supervisory mechanisms in place at educational institutions in the region, particularly during the transition periods like the start of vacations.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.
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