Top Mumbai School Asks Principal To Quit For Liking Social Media Posts On Palestine

Parveen Shaikh, the principal of Somaiya School, described her termination from the post as completely illegal, drastic and unwarranted and expressed shock over the politically motivated action.

Somaiya school management said Shaikh's social media activities were starkly misaligned with the values the school cherish.

Source : Freepik

A leading school in Mumbai said its management has discontinued the services of principal for liking pro-Palestine posts on social media adding her social media activities 'misalign with the values' cherished by the institution.  

The school said the move to remove Principal Parveen Shaikh was to "ensure that our ethos of unity and inclusivity is not compromised". 

"After careful consideration, the management has discontinued Ms Parveen Shaikh's association with Somaiya Vidyavihar to ensure that our ethos of unity and inclusivity is not compromised," the statement said.

The move comes days after she was asked to quit reportedly for liking social media posts on the Palestine issue and the Hamas-Israel conflict. 

Our Media Statement on 7th May 2024 pic.twitter.com/CFgOS6oCvb

— Somaiya Vidyavihar (@SomaiyaTrust) May 7, 2024

In a statement shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, the Somaiya school management said Shaikh's personal social media activities were starkly misaligned with the values the school cherish and hence given the gravity of concerns and after careful consideration, it discontinued her (services). 

She was earlier asked by the management to resign over her social media views, her aide had said on May 2. 

Parveen Shaikh, the principal of Somaiya School in Mumbai's Vidyavihar area, described her termination from the post as completely illegal, drastic and unwarranted and expressed shock over the politically motivated action.

The school management said it strives to cultivate an environment where knowledge leads to wisdom and uplifts all members of the community, transcending small-mindedness and personal biases.

"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," it said.

Earlier last week, the Somaiya school management informed the media that it had sought a written clarification from Shaikh and was waiting for her reply. The statement did not specify if the management received any clarification from her.

Shaikh, on the other hand, claimed her termination was completely illegal and she was shocked to know the news of her termination from social media even before receiving a notice from the management.

"My work as a school principal has been exceptional and my termination for such a reason is wrongful and unjust," she claimed. 

Shaikh further said she was disappointed as the school management chose not to stand by her and took drastic and unwarranted action.