Pune: The civic education department has ordered an inquiry into allegations against Deccan Education Society (DES)’s govt-aided Hindustan Antibiotics School in Pimpri that students of Class VII were humiliated by being made to stand in the classroom after which their photographs were clicked and shared on a WhatsApp group of parents and teachers over non-payment of fees on Monday.

Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC)’s education officer Sangita Bangar told TOI: “A three-member committee has been set up to investigate the matter. A report will be submitted to the state deputy director of education.” She said the department acted after receiving a complaint from members of a political party, following which officials visited the school for verification.

Anand Katikar, member of DES’s governing body, Pune, said children are not charged fees for education since the school is govt-aided. However, parents have to pay the expenses incurred for co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. The govt pays the teachers’ salary.

Parents of the affected students said they all had to pay Rs6,000 each to the school. One of the parents, who did not wish to be named, alleged that his child was among the students who were publicly humiliated. “The teachers should have spoken to us instead of punishing the children,” he added.

The school is located in the HA colony in Pimpri and was set up in 1958. Parents of a majority of the students work at the HA company.

Meanwhile, Katikar said the headmaster and teachers have been duly reprimanded. It was verbally made known to the teaching staff that their actions were wrong and should not be repeated. “We cannot suspend them directly and have to hear them out as per the law. We have formed an internal inquiry committee and will take further action apropos to the report,” he added.