While schoolteachers claim that the District Education Officer (DEO) office permitted the peon to use the classroom, officials in the DEO office reject the claim.

“Students have to sit outside in the open as we are short of rooms in the school. In this state of paucity, a complete room has been occupied by the peon with his family who has been deputed to look after the building,” said a teacher.

He added that it was difficult as the building has three schools being run in it — two government primary schools of Railly and 12A, one middle school and one anganwari school.

Another teacher of one of the primary schools in the building added that though the peon has been asked to vacate the place several times, and a complaint has also been lodged at the DEO office. Nothing concrete has, however, happened till date.

In the entire fiasco, the little ones are the major sufferers. “I feel uncomfortable to sit outside in the sweltering heat but my parents force me to attend classes. Last week, I had bouts of fever because of the heat. We have no choice and I drink water from the tank,” said Mohit, a student.

While the DEO was unavailable for comments, a senior official with the DEO office said, “It is impossible that the peon will be allowed to occupy an entire classroom and that too when the children are short of them.”

Commissioner and Director General, Haryana Education, Anurag Rastogi assured of immediate action.