Gujarat Teacher Lives in Chicago for 8 Years, Still Draws Salary; Probe Underway

Vadodara: A head teacher at a government primary school in Gujarat's Banaskantha district has allegedly been living in Chicago for the past eight years while still drawing a government salary, as per a complaint filed by officials and parents. The Gujarat government has ordered a probe against the schoolteacher, an official said on Friday.

The in-charge principal of a primary school in Panchha village in Banaskantha district claimed the teacher has been on the school's payroll despite reporting to duty only for a month every year and going on unauthorised leave as she lives in the US.

Bhavnaben Patel, the head of Pancha Primary School in Ambaji, holds a US green card and has been a permanent resident of Chicago since 2013, school officials stated. Despite her prolonged absence, Patel’s name remains on the school’s roster. Patel reportedly visits Gujarat once a year during Diwali, when the school is closed for holidays. However, during these brief visits, she neither attends school nor interacts with students.

On learning about the principal's allegations, Gujarat Education Minister Kuber Dindor ordered a probe. Dindor said, "I have ordered an inquiry and sought a report from district officials. We do not allow such practice. If found guilty of unauthorised absence, we will punish the teacher and recover the salary she was paid."

Minister of State for Education Praful Pansheriya asserted that the teacher had not been paid since January. "She is one of 11 teachers in Danta taluka of Banaskantha. As per a primary report submitted by officials, she has been taking leaves at regular intervals. However, the report clearly stated that she has not been paid a single rupee since January. We will take action if she is found guilty of availing any other benefits despite living abroad," Pansheriya said.

Parents and school staff have raised complaints with education officials, but little action has been taken. Parulben, the school’s in-charge teacher, claimed that Patel moved to the U.S. in 2013 and that she informed education officials about Patel’s extended absence once it came to her attention. Students also confirmed they have not seen Patel in at least two years.

The primary education officer confirmed that Patel last visited the school in January 2023 and has been on unpaid leave since the start of this year. Officials have issued a show-cause notice to Patel and are pursuing disciplinary action.

The issue came to the fore after Parul Mehta, the in-charge principal of the school, informed local media that despite settling in the US in 2016, Patel continues to be on the payroll.

"Bhavnaben Patel settled in the US in 2016. But, to ensure her service continues, she comes to school once a year and serves for a month. This has been going on for several years. Children are suffering because of her long absence. She should either resign or join duty," Mehta told reporters.

She also shared a letter dated July 18, wherein she urged District Education Officer Vinubhai Patel to take action against the teacher, who will retire in 2027. Mehta claimed the teacher takes two months' salary each year despite being on "leave without pay" as per the school muster.

The DEO, in his response, said Bhavna Patel is on an unauthorised leave for the last eight months and has not been paid since January.

"Our taluka primary education officer (TPEO) found out about this during an inspection in May and sent her a notice. The official rejected her explanation and informed us to take further action. We have not paid her in the last eight months," he said.

He said the teacher reported to duty in January and left for the US.

After getting the notice in June, she sent an explanation on WhatsApp.

As per state government rules, teachers can be dismissed from the service only when they are absent for a year or more, the DEO said.

"In her reply, she said she would join duty in September. However, her reply was rejected, and she was asked to report to work immediately. In the past, we have dismissed 10 teachers for unauthorised absence for more than one year. We will again issue a notice and take strict action against her," he said.