Mumbai's Somaiya School sacks principal Praveen Shaikh for liking pro-Palestine tweets

The management of Somaiya School in Mumbai has announced the dismissal of Principal Parveen Shaikh, citing concerns over her social media activity. Shaikh's termination comes after she was initially asked to resign following allegations of liking pro-Palestine and sympathetic-to-Hamas tweets.

Shaikh, who served as the principal for seven years and has been associated with the school for 12 years, expressed shock and described her termination as "completely illegal, drastic, and unwarranted." She accused the management of taking "drastic and unwarranted action" and suggested that her termination may be politically motivated.

In a statement shared on social media platform X, the school management stated, "The management has discontinued Parveen Shaikh’s association with Somaiya Vidyavihar to ensure that our ethos of unity and inclusivity is not compromised." They emphasized their commitment to creating an environment where knowledge leads to wisdom and uplifts all members of the community.

The management further emphasized their commitment to fostering an environment where knowledge leads to wisdom, transcending personal biases. They also highlighted the importance of exercising freedom of expression responsibly while respecting others' viewpoints. They however stated that the recent termination of Principal Parveen Shaikh's services was over the alleged misalignment of her social media activities with the school's values.

In a statement, the school management stated, "We strive to cultivate an environment where knowledge leads to wisdom and uplifts all members of the community, transcending small-mindedness and personal biases." They further added, "We strongly support the right to freedom of expression, yet we recognize that it is not absolute and must be exercised with responsibility and respect for others."

The statement highlighted the school's dedication to providing a nurturing educational environment that respects all cultures and beliefs, contributing positively to society. It emphasized the importance of safeguarding the impressionable minds of youth by upholding the highest standards of integrity and inclusivity.

Regarding Shaikh's termination, the school management had sought a written clarification from her last week and was awaiting her reply. However, the statement did not specify whether they received any clarification from her.

Shaikh, on the other hand, claimed that her termination was based on "defamatory lies" and expressed disappointment with the management's decision. She stated, "I was shocked to know about my sacking from social media even before receiving a termination notice from the management."

Shaikh, in a statement shared on WhatsApp, expressed disappointment with the management's decision, stating that she was "shocked to know" about her termination from social media before receiving an official notice.

She asserted the exceptional nature of her work as a school principal and deemed her termination for such a reason as "wrongful and unjust." Shaikh also hinted at exploring legal options, expressing a belief in the legal system and the Indian Constitution.

(With inputs from PTI)