Sacked JBT teachers end fast, suspend sit-in

Tribune News Service

Karnal, July 27

JBT teachers, whose services have been terminated, ended their indefinite fast following an assurance from Virender Kumar Dahiya, Additional Director, Elementary Education, of re-appointment. The protesting teachers also suspended their 32-day long dharna till August 15.

Dahiya assured the protesters that the department would issue them appointment letters by August 15.

The sacked teachers threatened that they would again start an agitation against the government on August 15 if their demand was not met.

The district administration have been trying to convince the fasting teachers to end their fast, as their health condition deteriorated.

Deputy Commissioner Aditya Dahiya, SDM Yogesh Kumar and Tehsildar Shyam Lal have been appealing to them to end their dharna and fast saying the government is serious about addressing their issues. On Wednesday night, a fasting teacher had refused medical treatment.

Virender Dahiya visited the mini-secretariat here today and met the fasting JBT teachers. He asked them to end their fast and dharna, but the teachers were sought a written assurance. He assured them that around 963 JBT teachers have not joined duty yet and the department would adjust them on these vacant posts. The teachers ended their fast following the assurance and suspended the dharna till August 15. “The department is taking their issue seriously. We have 963 posts vacant as JBT teachers have not joined duty, while the number of sacked JBT teachers, who had earlier joined, is 1010,” said Virender Dahiya. He added that appointment letters would be issued to these JBT teachers by August 15.

JBT teacher Rakesh Jangra said, “We are aware of vacancies and that there is a long procedure to fill these. Now, the Additional Director has given us an assurance, hence we will wait till August 15,” he added.