Teacher’s False Allegations Turn Disciplinary Dispute Into Religious Row at UP Catholic School

Ghaziabad, May 6, 2026: A disciplinary matter involving a Physical Training (PT) teacher at St. Teresa Academy in Modinagar, Uttar Pradesh, took a religious turn on Tuesday, May 5, after Hindutva organisations staged protests outside the school over allegations of religious conversion levelled against the institution.

Speaking to Catholic Connect, school manager Fr. Jesu Amritham and principal Sr. Lourd denied the allegations and maintained that the issue was “purely related to the teacher’s conduct and disciplinary concerns” and “had nothing to do with religion or conversion.”

Groups including Bajrang Dal and Hindu Raksha Dal gathered outside the school premises, raised slogans, and wrote “Om” symbols on the school gates following allegations made by PT teacher Aruna Rani, who has been working at the school since 2012. According to school authorities, the groups remained at the campus from late morning until evening on Tuesday, May 5, and were present near the school again on Wednesday, May 6.

A Pattern of Repeated Misconduct

Sr. Lourd, who has been serving at the school for the past two years, said the teacher’s conduct had repeatedly disrupted the institution’s professional environment.

“There were significant challenges in maintaining discipline and professionalism because of her behaviour,” Sr. Lourd said.

According to Sr. Lourd, the teacher allegedly used abusive language with students and parents, behaved improperly with colleagues, resisted corrections, and repeatedly created disputes within the institution. “She acted more like a mother than a teacher regarding her child studying in the same school,” Sr. Lourd said, alleging that the teacher frequently confronted colleagues over classroom matters.

“She never accepted corrections in a good spirit. Sometimes corrections were given softly, sometimes sternly, depending on the situation, but there was no improvement,” Sr. Lourd said, alleging that the teacher would “raise her voice, bang the office door while leaving, and put allegations against the management and principal whenever disciplinary concerns were addressed.”

“The previous management had also faced similar issues with her. Warnings and notices had already been given earlier,” she said, adding that the institution possesses written apology letters submitted by the teacher in the past.

Concerns Over Conduct and Duties

“Collections related to school activities and conveyance were handled by her, but proper accounts were not submitted to the school,” Sr. Lourd alleged, claiming that the teacher had mishandled responsibilities entrusted to her in connection with student activities and transport arrangements.

According to the school, one of the teacher’s children was studying in Class 3 at the institution. The child’s father applied for a Transfer Certificate (TC) on March 9 and collected it from the school on March 19.

“After this incident, matters escalated further and she began finding fault with people in the school,” Sr. Lourd said.

The school also stated that admission for the teacher’s younger child had recently been sought again for the new academic session.

*School Denies Conversion Allegations*

When the situation allegedly became more serious in recent months, Sr. Lourd said she formally escalated the matter to the management for review.

“We have not terminated her and no removal notice has been issued,” the principal clarified. “But she falsely spread that the school had already removed her from service.”

“We have prayer services as part of our institution, but there is no forced conversion here,” Sr. Lourd stated.

Police Deploy Security, Parents Express Support

School officials said the police remained supportive throughout the incident, deployed security personnel to the campus, and helped maintain peace around the institution.

“We were trying to speak peacefully with the groups that had gathered,” Sr. Lourd said. “The police supported us throughout.”

The principal also said senior police officials, including the ACP, assured the school that no harm would come to the institution.

“He also informed us that many parents and former students had reached out expressing support for the institution,” Sr. Lourd said.

The protest groups demanded that the teacher remain employed at the school until retirement. However, the management maintained that employment-related decisions would be handled according to institutional procedures.

By Catholic Connect Reporter