Lakhan Lal Meena, who was the Joint Secretary (Adhoc) and Regional Officer of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in Guwahati, was recently placed under suspension with immediate effect. The order mentioned that Meena may face disciplinary action, according to CBSE Chairperson Nidhi Chibber.
Although the statement made by CBSE did not state why Meena was disciplined, it is assumed that this had something to do with her involvement in a lawsuit regarding dowry harassment and assault. Lakhan Meena was the subject of a formal complaint (FIR) filed by Ramchandra Nath Sahu Mishra in the Allahabad City district’s Dhumanganj police station. The complaint was filed under sections 11, 12, 146, 163, and other provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Dowry Prohibition (DP) Act. This information would become clear in due course. The state government filed a charge sheet against Meena throughout the course of the investigation, and the matter was eventually taken before the court.
But because the lower courts were not receiving up-to-date information about the High Court’s order, the case took a different turn and became more complicated. As a result, Meena was served with a non-bailable warrant by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) of Allahabad, who also issued a summons for him to appear in court on February 2, 2024.
After the case was transferred from the High Court to the Supreme Court, the legal situation became more complicated. The Supreme Court has reserved its ruling, leaving the case pending, after hearing arguments from both sides and taking the High Court’s question into consideration.
While the CBSE statement does not state the grounds for disciplinary action, Meena’s suspension from his position comes during this legal dispute. But as the CBSE judgment makes abundantly evident, Meena’s involvement in the ongoing legal dispute has raised serious issues, which is why the board disciplined him. The ruling stipulated that Meena could not leave the CBSE headquarters in Delhi unless the Competent Authority gave her permission to do so throughout the suspension term.
