Ramban School Negligence: Entire Staff Suspended After Class 7 Student Locked Inside Ahead of Summer Vacation

BANIHAL/JAMMU, July 6, 2026 — In a severe case of administrative negligence, the entire nine-member staff of Government Middle School, Krawah, in the Banihal zone of Ramban district, has been suspended after a Class 7 student was accidentally locked inside a classroom for over four hours. The incident occurred on July 4, 2026, the final working day before the school’s 15-day summer vacation, when the young boy reportedly fell asleep in his classroom. He was only rescued around 8:00 PM after a passerby heard his cries for help, freed him from the locked building, and recorded a video of the ordeal that subsequently went viral on social media, sparking widespread public outrage.

Taking immediate and serious note of the safety lapse, the Chief Education Officer (CEO) of Ramban labeled the incident as gross negligence and a severe dereliction of duty that directly endangered the child’s life. Under Rule 31 of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services Rules, 1956, all nine employees—including six teachers, the headmaster, and three support staff members—have been placed under suspension with immediate effect, though they will remain assigned to the school during the suspension period. To ensure accountability, the CEO has constituted a three-member inquiry committee chaired by the principal of Higher Secondary School Girls Banihal, alongside the zonal education officer of Banihal and the headmaster of High School Bankoot. The panel has been mandated to conduct a thorough investigation and submit a detailed report with recommendations within three days.