Chandigarh, December 01: On the call of Pb. Govt College Teachers’ Association, hundreds of teachers from different Govt. Colleges of Pb. participated in the rally at Rally Ground Sector-25, Chandigarh and then 13 Professors from different colleges of Punjab offered themselves for arrest and they were taken to the Police Station Sec 24, Chandigarh. They will be produced before the Magistrate, UT Chandigarh. Those who offered arrests included Prof. Jaipal Singh (President GCTA, Punjab), Prof. Hardip Singh (General Secretary) & other Executive Members – Prof. Manjeet Saini, Prof. Harsh Mehta, Prof. Gurjeet Mann, Prof. Gurdarshan Brar, Prof. B.S. Tohra, Prof. Gurjant Singh, Prof. Jaswinder Singh, Prof. P.S. Rekhi, Prof. Pritam Bhangu, Prof. Harbans Singh, Prof. Baljinder Singh.
Addressing the rally Prof. Jaipal Singh condemned the Pb. Govt. for its discriminatory, step -motherly and arrogant behavior towards them. He said that denying only Govt. colleges teachers the 1st installment of arrears of grade revision and paying it to all state govt. employees in May 2011 is a blatant discrimination against them. Similarly the govt, is not implementing MHRD notification regarding retirement age. So much so the Govt. college teachers retire at 58 years whereas teachers in private colleges and universities in Punjab retire at 60 years. The Deptt of Finance, Govt of Punjab is creating undue hurdles in the adoption of UGC letter regarding relaxation in refresher courses whereas all other states in India have adopted the letter of UGC for relaxation in refresher courses up to 30.06.2010.The Punjab Govt. even after more than two years from its notification dated 02.09.2009, has not done anything to promote college teachers as professors, in spite of clear directions from the Hon’ble Pb & Haryana High Court. M.Phil/Ph.D degree holders are denied their due advance increments as per various letters issued by the Pb. Govt. from time to time. The Govt. owes a big explanation to the people of Punjab why it has not bothered to fill about 50% posts of teachers, 30% of principals, 50% of librarians and hundreds of other supporting staff in Govt. Colleges. Due to this, crores of rupees of burden is put on the students through P.T.A. He said that if their genuine demands are not conceded they will be forced to intensify their struggle, the responsibility for the loss of studies of students shall be solely of the Govt. Dr. Hardeep Singh, Dr. Manjit Singh, Dr. Harsh Mehta and Prof. Jagwant Singh President of PCCTU and General Secretary PFUCTO also addressed the rally.
