E-Paper
GNDU teachers continue hunger strike for arrears
With no response from the Punjab government to their demand for early release of arrears on account of the revised pay scale, the teaching faculty of Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) and its affiliated regional campuses and colleges continued with their relay hunger strike on the seventh day on Wednesday.
With no response from the Punjab government to their demand for early release of arrears on account of the revised pay scale, the teaching faculty of Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) and its affiliated regional campuses and colleges continued with their relay hunger strike on the seventh day on Wednesday.
GNDU Teachers Association (GNDUTA), spearheading the protest, made it clear to the state government and vice chancellor AS Brar that the dharna would continue till the arrears were paid.
However, they sought to assure the V-C that they would not allow students to suffer and teachers would also continue with their examination duties and also evaluation of answersheets.
Meanwhile, GNDUTA executive members Prof AS Soodan and Prof RS Kaler sat on the hunger strike on the seventh day. Other members along with campus teachers visited the dharna spot to express their solidarity.
In a statement issued here, GNDUTA also observed that the recent 'sacking' of Dr DN Johar as vice chancellor of Agra University should serve as an eye-opener to the state government and Governor Shivraj Patil, who is also chancellor of the GNDU. In this context, the association pointed out that Johar was appointed dean of the law faculty of GNDU by Brar and also a member of the syndicate a couple of months back.
"Johar was asked to resign by the Agra University chancellor after he was found guilty of violating university rules while making certain key appointments. It is unfortunate that such a person was chosen by Brar for two key positions," the statement added.
GNDUTA claimed that Johar's appointment as dean of the law faculty was "illegal" since GNDU rules clearly stated that a person from outside the university could be appointed dean of any faculty only if a 'qualified' faculty member was not available from within the varsity. At present, there were three senior teachers of the law department who fulfilled all the necessary qualifications for the post.
The association demanded that Johar, who retired from the law department of Panjab University some years back, should be removed from the syndicate, the highest decision-making body of the GNDU. After his indictment, Johar did not deserve to remain on the GNDU syndicate and also had no right to carry on as dean of the law faculty, the association added.
