Teachers serve notice on top officers over transfers

Tribune News Service

Patiala, November 12

The Sanjha Adhyapak Morcha has taken the legal route to stop the process of relocating and transfers of teachers as a tool, used by the Education Department, to harass the protesting teachers. The protesting teachers have served a legal notice on the Education Secretary, Director General, School Education, DPI (EE), DPI (SE) and all District Education Officers.

The notice has also raised questions on the cutting of 65 per cent amount from the present salary and offering the regularisation of service at a salary of Rs 15,300. The notice has cited the offer of Rs 15,300 salary as an arbitrary one.

Teachers said the Education Secretary was posting the newly appointed teachers, who had accepted the offer of regularisation of services on a salary of Rs 15,300, at the stations where the protesting teachers were already serving. Teachers said dislocation of the protesting teachers from their current stations was an attempt by Education Secretary Krishan Kumar to thwart the ongoing protest. It was their legitimate right to hold peaceful demonstration.

Davinder Punia, convener, Sanjha Adhyapak Morcha, said, “These steps by the Secretary, Education, are aimed at harassing the protesting teachers. On the other hand, they are enticing teachers by promising that if they accept regularisation of services, they will be given posting of their choice.”

Teachers said the postings were in violations of various rules of the Ministry of Human Resource and Development (MHRD), Right to Education Act, Rationalisation Policy and Transfer Policy, which had been followed thus far in the case of transfers, postings and new joining.

Education Department official spokesperson Rajinder Singh said, “We have enough time to reply to their legal notice. Moreover, if they think they are right, they can file a case in the High Court immediately.”

In the evening, teachers associated with the Sanjha Adhyapk Morcha held a protest near Cabinet Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot’s residence in Nabha. The police had to use mild force to stop the teachers to reach his residence.