J&K couple ‘fired for love marriage’ refuse to return to job posts

SRINAGAR: The teacher couple from the Muslim Educational Institute of Pampore, who were sacked on their wedding day for having a ‘love marriage’ have refused to join the school even after being reinstated.

The school had on Saturday offered to give the teachers their job back after intervention from local authorities.

The couple, however, refused to join, saying their image has been tarnished beyond repair.

“What will the students of the school be thinking about us? Will we enjoy the same status and respect among our colleagues?” asked Tariq Ahmad.

Tariq and his wife Sumaya Bashir have been working in the school since 2013 and 2010 respectively.

They were sacked on the day of the wedding, which authorities termed was “a bad influence on the 2,000 students and 200 staff members of the school”.

The couple, however, had claimed that they had an

What will the students of the school be thinking about us? Will we enjoy the same status and respect among our colleagues?

TARIQ AHMAD, Sacked teacher

arranged marriage. “Ours was an arranged marriage. We got engaged a few months ago and the entire school management knew about it as Sumaya hosted a party for the staff members soon after the engagement ceremony,” Bhat said.

Following media reports, education minister Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari had promised to get the teachers reinstated.

The district authorities later asked the school to reinstate them. Tariq, however, said giving the job back is not the answer and wants action against the school. “I am planning a defamation case against the school,” he said.