A student belonging to the Brahmin community has complained that a teacher at the government school forced her to eat an egg.

Education department officials have launched a probe following a complaintby her father V Srikanth, who is also a government schoolteacher.

The girl is studying in class 2 at the Karnataka Public School at Kammachi village near Gartikere in Shivamogga.Srikanth is a high school teacher in the same school.The seven-year-old complained to her father that her teacher told her that eggs are a must for good health.

Eggs are extended to students as a nutritional supplement.

Srikanth lodged a complaint with Shivamogga DDPI CR Parameshwarappa, who said he has asked the BEO to conduct a probe.

Srikanth told TOI his daughter has never consumed non-vegetarian food but was forced to eat egg two days ago.

He complained against Puttaswamy, an assistant teacher at the school.There are 26 students studying in class II at KPS.

Out of them, 10 are vegetarians.

In his letter to the DDPI, Srikanth said he had informed the school authorities that his daughter is a vegetarian and had asked for chikkis to be served to her instead of eggs.

"But Puttaswamy told the class that eggs are good for health.

My daughter fell ill and is mentally disturbed," he stated adding that it has hurt his family's religious beliefs.

Srikanth claimed Puttaswamy expressed regret.

"I have no personal issue with him.

I do not want to drag this issue," he said.

Puttaswamy was not available for comment.