E-Paper
Appointments by Punjab education department: Another principal refuses to join as DEO
Recent appointments of DEOs across various districts of the state have caused quite an upheaval for the Punjab education department
The recent appointments of district education officers (DEO) across various districts of Punjab have caused quite an upheaval in the department, with certain school principals refusing to assume charge — reasoning that they were not consulted before the orders were passed.
Hours after issuing the list of 35 Punjab Education Service (PES) officers who were appointed as DEOs on November 26, the department had cancelled the appointment of three officers. It had come to light that one of the officers whose appointment was cancelled by the department had already taken voluntary retirement last year.
Two days on, another principal — who was appointed as DEO (Elementary) Moga has refused to join the post.
Principal of GSSS Kundanpuri Ludhiana Anita Gulati said that she has conveyed to the department that she cannot take the charge as DEO due to personal reasons. She had also earlier refused to join the post.
The department had cancelled the appointment of Bindu Arora as DEO (Elementary) Fazilka, Barinderjit Kaur as DEO (Elementary) Mohali and Paramjit Singh as DEO (Elementary) at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar.
A principal who has been appointed as DEO, requesting anonymity, said the department did not consult the respective principals before preparing the list of the new DEOs, adding that the list includes the names of many appointees who had earlier refused to take up the responsibility.
“In recent years, it had been a norm to take the consent and discuss the appointment with the Principals, but this time no consultation was done which is the reason why a principal has refused to join,” the principal added.
Speaking of the developments, an official in the education department said the principals have been promoted on the basis of seniority.
