The Makkal Kalvi Kootiyakkam has appealed to the State government to withdraw the disciplinary punishment imposed on S. Uma Maheswari during the previous DMK government, mathematics teacher at the Nellikuppam Government Higher Secondary School in Chengalpattu district, who had her annual salary increments withheld for three years due to her social media posts regarding educational reforms.With 25 years of teaching experience, Ms. Maheswari is a well-known educator who has contributed extensively to Tamil Nadu’s educational framework.Her work includes authoring the Class 5 Social Science Samacheer Kalvi textbook in 2010, collaborating with SCERT, the Tamil Virtual Academy, and the Tamil Nadu Textbook Corporation on digital content development and ICT training, and achieving a 98% pass rate in Mathematics for her Class X students during the 2025–2026 academic year, noted the forum’s press statement.Notably, she was honoured as an outstanding teacher by the Chengalpattu Collector during the 76th Independence Day celebrations in August 2023.Despite her recognised service, the School Education Department launched an inquiry against her on March 6, 2024, when senior education officials visited her school without prior notice, questioned her online writings, forced her to delete educational posts, and temporarily suspended her.Although the suspension was subsequently revoked following widespread protests from educationists and student movements, the department proceeded under Rule 17(b) and Rule 12 of the Government Servants’ Conduct Rules, alleging that she had incited government employee sentiments against the administration through the “Asathum Arasu Palli Aasiriyar Amaippu” platform and Facebook.For over a year, Maheswari has been receiving her monthly salary with her annual increments frozen.Citing her long-standing contributions to student welfare and public education, the Makkal Kalvi Kootiyakkam has urged the Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and the Minister for School Education A. Rajmohan to drop the remaining penalties, labeling the previous actions vindictive and demanding full justice for the teacher. Published - September 08, 2026 07:00 pm IST