AAP fumes over poll duty for varsity staff

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh/Patiala, April 20

Leader of Opposition and AAP leader Harpal Cheema today lodged a written complaint with the CEO pointing out that some politically influential teachers of Punjabi University, Patiala, have been asked to perform election duties in the Lok Sabha elections.

Cheema said as per the university calendar, teachers at the university were free to participate or join any political party of their choice and even involve in their political affairs, directly or indirectly, so deputing such teachers can’t ensure a fair election.

He added that under the aforesaid provisions of the university calendar, some of the university teachers had contested elections under the banner of various political outfits and rose to bag high positions on the political landscape and made a mark in their respective capacity.

Cheema claimed that the Punjabi University teachers had never been assigned election duty till date even as they were free to support any of the political outfits under the norm.

“This is a serious matter of grave high-handedness on part of the high and mighty in the system,” Cheema said, demanding that such teachers should be immediately relieved of their election duties to meet the ends of justice.

Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal also urged the Election Commission to exempt the teachers of Punjabi University, Patiala, from poll-related duties as the university calendar deems these teachers eligible for political participation in the election process.

Meanwhile, university professors have been protesting their deputation on election duty since days. As many as 385 assistant and associate professors have been put on election duty.

The university professors have also decided to boycott rehearsals for the duty supposed to begin on Sunday. They will hold a protest outside the VC’s office on Sunday.