Errant? Promotions, pay rise at risk

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 13

With a rationale to induce discipline in staff deputed at government school and at the Education Department’s offices, Education Secretary Krishan Kumar has delegated powers to school heads and other subordinate authorities to take disciplinary proceedings under Rule 10 of the Punjab Civil Services (Punishment and Appeal) Rule 1970 against delinquent staff.

The authorities can impose minor penalties, including censure, withholding promotion, recovery from his pay of the whole or part of any pecuniary loss caused by him to the government by negligence or branch of orders and withholding increment of pay without cumulative effect the 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 delegated to DEOs, School heads and Block Primary Education Officers to take action against errant staff.

The District Education Officer (Secondary Education) will have the authority to act against principal, headmaster, headmistress and all non-teaching staff deployed at the DEO (Secondary Education) office.

Similarly, District Education Officer has got power to impose minor penalties on Block Primary Education Officers and all non-teaching staff working at DEO (Elementary Education) office.

School heads at government schools can take disciplinary proceedings against all teaching personnel of various cadres working in schools and non-teaching staff.

Block Primary Officers have also been delegated powers against teachers in respective education block and non-teaching staff.

However, teachers feel that concerned authority can misuse power. “Why is there a need to inculcate discipline among teachers in schools? Power can be misused by authorities concerned. Small issues can be solved without penalties. The Education Department is trying to create fear in mind of teachers which is not a correct method to make things work,” said Ramajit Sandhu, a government teacher.