In a shocking incident from northern India’s Uttar Pradesh the principal of Shyam Raji High School made students sit outside in the scorching sun for not paying school fees.

The incident took place at Shyam Raji High School in Itwa Tehsil, Siddharthnagar district on October 1.

Visuals showed around 50 students were sent out of school for not paying fees. In the intense heat, they sat on the roadside as the principal recorded a video on his phone, addressing the parents. He claimed that despite repeated warnings and notices, no fees were paid, leaving him a defaulter with ₹50,000 in dues.

The school’s principal, Shailesh Kumar Tripathi, who recorded a video of the event, claimed that the school had been declared a defaulter by the bank due to unpaid fees.

Tripathi stated that the school had taken out loans to continue operations, but due to parents not clearing the fees, the school was in trouble with the bank. The principal defended his actions by stating that his intention was not to humiliate the children but to bring the financial situation to the attention of the parents. However, the video, shared in a school social media group, was later leaked and went viral, causing widespread outrage and highlighting the harsh punishment given to the students.

Following the video’s spread, many have criticized the principal’s approach, calling it inhumane. In response, Tripathi acknowledged his mistake, expressing regret for his actions, stating that he did not intend to harm the students’ dignity but admitted that his method of addressing the issue was flawed.

* Non Exclusive Video rights*