The Karnataka Education Department has suspended two government school teachers in Yadgir district for allegedly participating in an RSS Patha Sanchalana, or route march, pending a departmental inquiry. The department has held that their participation prima facie amounted to a violation of provisions of the Karnataka Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 2021. The suspension orders were issued on August 20 by Yadgir Deputy Director of School Education Channabasappa Mudhol. The action was taken against Gururaj Joshi, an assistant teacher at Government Girls' High School in Hunasagi, and Anna Saheb Deshmukh, head teacher at Government Lower Primary School in Kuppi, located in Surpur taluk.

According to the proceedings, the teachers' participation in an RSS route march was treated as dereliction of duty and a potential violation of service conduct rules applicable to government employees. The department has initiated the disciplinary process while suspending the two teachers, meaning the allegations will be examined through a departmental inquiry before any final decision is taken. The suspension order cited Rules 3(1), 3(2), 3(3), 5(1) and 7 of the Karnataka Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 2021. The proceedings stated that participation in the RSS Patha Sanchalana “prima facie amounts to dereliction of duty and violation” of the cited provisions.

The wording indicates that the department has recorded the alleged misconduct as a preliminary finding pending further proceedings. In Joshi's case, the proceedings reportedly referred to his alleged participation in an RSS Patha Sanchalana held in Talikoti in Vijayapura district on October 12, 2025. A photograph purportedly showing Joshi participating in the event was published in Vijaya Karnataka, according to the suspension proceedings. The department relied on the reported participation while initiating action against the teacher. The second teacher, Anna Saheb Deshmukh, is the head teacher of Government Lower Primary School at Kuppi in Surpur taluk.

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The department's action against both teachers is based on the contention that their participation in the RSS event was inconsistent with the conduct requirements applicable to government employees. The suspension orders will remain connected to the departmental inquiry into the allegations. The development comes amid continuing debate over the participation of government employees in activities associated with political or ideological organisations. Service conduct rules are intended to regulate the behaviour of government personnel and prescribe standards relating to their duties and conduct.

In this case, the Karnataka Education Department has invoked specific provisions of the state's conduct rules to justify the suspension pending inquiry. The departmental proceedings will now determine whether the allegations against the two teachers are established and whether further disciplinary action is warranted. For the moment, both teachers remain suspended pending the outcome of the inquiry. The Education Department's action is based on its preliminary assessment that participation in the RSS route march constituted a breach of the Karnataka Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 2021.

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