Kashmir: Sacked teacher-couple reinstated but refuse to join

The teacher couple who was sacked on their wedding day for having a ‘love marriage’ have refused to join the school even after being reinstated as their reputation has been maligned.

The school had on Saturday offered to give the teachers their job back after intervention from local authorities. The couple, however, refused to join, saying their image has been tarnished beyond repair.

“What will the students of the school be thinking about us? Will we enjoy the same status and respect among our colleagues?” asked Tariq Ahmad.

Tariq and his wife Sumaya Bashir, teachers of Muslim Educational Institute of Pampore, were working in the school since 2013 and 2010 respectively.

They were sacked on the day of the wedding, which authorities termed was “a bad influence on 2000 students and 200 staff members in the school”.

Following media reports, education minister Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari had promised to get the teachers reinstated.

The district authorities later asked the school to reinstate them as the allegations against them were found baseless by an investigation committee.

Tariq, however, said giving the job back is not the answer and wants action against the school. “I am planning a defamation case against the school,” he said.