Jaipur deaf school students protest poor infrastructure, principal removed

Hearing- and speech-impaired students of a Jaipur government school staged a silent protest over poor infrastructure, alleging unhygienic toilets, water shortage and a dilapidated building. Following an inspection, the Education Department removed the school's principal.Jaipur deaf students stage protest over poor facilities; Education Department removes principal (representative image)Hearing and speech-impaired students of the Government Anandilal Poddar Senior Secondary School for the Deaf in Jaipur staged a protest on Wednesday over alleged poor infrastructure and lack of basic facilities, following which the Education Department removed the school's principal.The students came out of the school building and staged a dharna, alleging through sign language that they had been facing problems due to unhygienic toilets, shortage of drinking water and a dilapidated school building.STUDENTS ALLEGE POOR INFRASTRUCTUREThe students claimed that repeated complaints to the school administration had gone unaddressed.Following the protest, Education Department officials inspected the school and found deficiencies in sanitation, building maintenance and administrative arrangements. The department relieved principal Bharat Joshi of his responsibilities with immediate effect and handed additional charge of the school to the vice-principal, according to an official order.OPPOSITION LEADERS VISIT SCHOOLLeader of the Opposition, Tikaram Jully, visited the school and met the students and staff. He inspected classrooms and interacted with the school staff. Jully said the issue would be raised during the upcoming Assembly session. He said the students' silent protest reflected their anguish and alleged they were being denied their right to proper education, trained teachers and basic facilities.Children who should have been attending classes were instead forced to protest for their fundamental rights, which reflected the government's "insensitivity" towards specially-abled students, he said.Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot also visited the school later and said he would write to the chief minister seeking redressal of the students' grievances.(With PTI inputs)- EndsPublished By: Karan YadavPublished On: Aug 5, 2026 16:23 IST