Govt school heads, DEOs get more teeth

Ajay Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 17

To monitor effective functioning in government schools and Education Department, Education Secretary Krishan Kumar has invested powers in school heads and other subordinate authorities to take disciplinary action under Rule 10 of the Punjab Civil Services (Punishment and Appeal) Rule, 1970, against delinquent staff. The motive is to bring about discipline in staff deputed at government schools and at Education Department offices.

After issuing necessary warnings, the authorities are allowed to impose minor penalties, including censure, withholding promotion, recovery of the whole pay or part of any pecuniary loss caused by the person to the government by negligence or any branch of orders and withholding of increment of pay without cumulative effect under Rule 5 of the Punjab Civil Services (Punishment and Appeal) Rule, 1970.

Earlier, only the appointing authority had the powers in the Education Department to take such steps. Now, the powers have been vested in DEOs, school heads and block primary education officers (BPEO) to take action against the errant staff. The District Education Officer (Secondary Education) will have the authority to act against the principal, headmaster, headmistress and all non-teaching staff deployed at the DEO (Secondary Education) office.

The DEO has got power to impose minor penalties on BPEOs and all non-teaching staff working at the DEO (Elementary Education) office. Block primary officers have also been delegated powers against teachers in respective education block and non-teaching staff.

As heads at government schools can take disciplinary proceedings against all teaching personnel of various cadres working in schools and non-teaching staff, Ladowali Senior Secondary Girls School principal Sunita Randhawa said though it had been conveyed to the school authorities through a simple notice, it would be a deterrent step for teachers and staff before doing any infringement. It would create fear among teachers. However, teachers feel that the authorities concerned can misuse power.

Fact file

After issuing necessary warnings, the government school authorities are allowed to impose minor penalties, including censure, withholding promotion, recovery of the whole pay or part of any pecuniary loss caused by the person to the government by negligence or any branch of orders and withholding of increment of pay without cumulative effect.