Education Director's scandalous outburst: Phone snatched, Journalist manhandled in office; video sparks outrage

Dehradun(The Uttam Hindu): Uttarakhand's Director of Primary Education, Ajay Kumar Naudiyal, was involved in a heated altercation with a woman journalist at a government office in Dehradun. The incident, captured on video, shows Naudiyal snatching a phone from the journalist and a brief scuffle breaking out.

The confrontation occurred when parents of D.El.Ed trainees visited the director's office, seeking clarification on whether their children would be considered in the current primary teacher recruitment process. The woman journalist was recording the incident when Naudiyal became aggressive and grabbed her phone.

The video shows Naudiyal visibly angry, pointing his finger, and approaching the woman before snatching her phone. The woman protests, saying "Hum press se hain" (We are from the press), while others intervene to calm the situation.

The incident has sparked widespread outrage on social media, with many calling for Naudiyal's suspension and strict action against officials who engage in misconduct with journalists.

The matter has reached the Chief Minister's Office, and officials say a decision will be taken soon. The Education Minister has sought a detailed report on the incident.

The recruitment process for primary teachers has been ongoing, with 1,649 posts announced recently. Parents of D.El.Ed trainees are concerned about their children's eligibility for the recruitment.

Naudiyal has written a letter to the Director General of School Education, alleging that the visitors disrupted the office environment and pressured staff to stop the recruitment process. The woman journalist, Sima Rawat, claims Naudiyal snatched her phone and threw it to the ground.