Parents of students demand action against Dalit cook

Parents of a section of students of a school mirred in a controversy over posting of a woman Dalit cook today petitioned the Tirupur District Collector seeking action against her for 'negligence' which they alleged led to food poisoning of 12 wards recently.

The parents who came to the Collectorate along with their wards raised slogans against Pappal, who cooks the noon meal at the school, and demanded action against her, police said.

The parents submitted a memorandum, seeking an inquiry by the education department into the incident, which had occurred a day after the husband of Pappal sought police protection to his family.

Twelve of the 31 students of the government high school in Thirumalaigoundenpalyam had complained of nausea and vomiting after eating noon meal on August 7 and were hospitalised.

It was alleged that a dead lizard was found in the food and based on a complaint by headmistress Sasikala, police had registered a case against the cook under IPC section 337 (endangering human life or personal safety of others).

Rejecting the charge, Pappal has claimed that she and her daughter had consumed the same food and there was a conspiracy to remove her from the school.

Pappal was transferred to another school last month after the parents of children of Gounder community had opposed to her posting as the cook at the school and exerted pressure on the authorities concerned to shift her.

However, she was later reinstated at the school after the issue reached higher officials.

The National Commission for Scheduled Castes has also taken cognisance of the matter and sought explanation on the 'humiliation' meted out to the Dalit woman.