KASARAGOD: Protests are mounting following the suspension of a teacher over an LP section quiz question regarding Vinayak Damodar Savarkar in a school-level “Freedom Quiz 2026” organized by the Social Science Club in schools across the Kumbala and Manjeshwaram sub-districts. The Director of General Education (DGE) ordered the suspension of Guruprasad, a teacher at Pallathadukka AUPS in the Kumbala sub-district.
The disciplinary action was triggered by a question in the LP section quiz held on August 6: “Who is the freedom fighter who received the harshest punishment from the British?” The answer key provided for the question was V.D. Savarkar, which authorities deemed a grave lapse.
An inquiry conducted by the Kasaragod Deputy Director of Education (DDE) found that the question paper was prepared under the leadership of Guruprasad and a few other teachers at Pallathadukka AUPS. Based on the inquiry report, the suspension order was issued.
Immediate intervention followed after the incident was brought to the attention of the Minister for General Education, N. Shamsudeen. The Kasaragod DDE was instructed to urgently suspend Guruprasad using concurrent powers under Section 12(A) of the Kerala Education Act, 1958, and to direct the school manager to initiate departmental disciplinary action under Chapter 14(A), Rule 75 of the Kerala Education Rules (KER). The Director of General Education has also ordered a detailed inquiry and directed that a report be submitted immediately.
Meanwhile, Guruprasad stated that he did not prepare the quiz question or the answer key, claiming they were drafted by teachers belonging to a Congress-aligned association, and that he had only forwarded the document to the DDE.
