Fearing job loss, JBT teachers protest revised merit list

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, June 5

Junior Basic Training (JBT) teachers and primary teachers of Haryana today protested the state government’s revised combined merit list outside Siksha Sadan, Sector 5, Panchkula.

With the revised list issued following directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, 1,225 JBT teachers and primary teachers are set to lose their jobs.

A Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court had recently directed the Haryana Government to prepare a combined merit list of eligible candidates who had cleared HTET in 2011 and 2013 and appoint teachers accordingly.

The protesters alleged earlier they were issued appointment letters by the government, but now the district education officers had served them show-cause notices terminating their services.

Later, a delegation of protesting teachers met Chief Minister Manohar LaL Khattar and submitted him a memorandum.

Some of the protesting women JBT teachers collected their “dupattas” and set them on fire. When they threw their “dupattas” on the road, some of the male teachers tried to lay over them and attempted to set their clothes on fire too. The police acted immediately, dispersing the protesters and dousing the flames. 

Women set dupattas on fire

Some of the protesting women JBT teachers collected their “dupattas” and set them on fire. When they threw their “dupattas” on the road, some of the male teachers tried to lay over them and attempted to set their clothes on fire too. The police acted immediately, dispersing the protesters and dousing the flames.