Democracy eroded: Kumar-Naura group
Chandigarh, September 16
As the elections for the Panjab University Teachers’ Association (PUTA) are just two weeks away, the two contesting groups have come up with various promises for teachers.
Pattern for exams starting today
The Assistant Registrar (Conduct), Controller of Examination office, released the pattern for attempting question paper for exit-class exams starting on Thursday. A circular stated: “For undergraduate and postgraduate classes, 50 per cent of the total questions in the exam need to be attempted. All will carry equal marks. For instance: If the total number of questions is 11, the questions to be attempted will be five. Similarly, if the total number of questions is 10, the number to be attempted will also be five.”
The team led by Mritunjay Kumar and Amarjit Singh Naura claimed that their best interests would be served if teachers were not humiliated, insulted or sidelined. They claimed, “Our team has resisted all kind of arbitrary appointments, distribution of largesse on a pick-and-choose basis and autocratic decisions targeting teachers and will continue to do so with greater force. Our community needs a PUTA that can put across the grievances of teachers before the authorities without fear,” said Mritunjay Kumar, who is contesting on the post of president
‘No heed to principals’
Kumar’s further said: “Never before did the university face such a blatant erosion of democratic platforms of governance as now. As is evident, a coterie consisting of a few with vested interests has taken complete control of academics, administration and even governance, paying no heed to hard-earned principles of rotation, seniority, inclusion and justice. All such forces of different shades have joined hands to contest elections against us so that teachers can be put under complete suppression and rendered voiceless. You have to decide whether we go with those who speak through their propaganda on the social media, using all kind of unparliamentarily language against our own teachers, or those who are always ready to take on the authorities to for the sake of teachers’ welfare.”
The PUTA elections are slated for September 25 and 26. Earlier, Mohammed Khalid and MC Sidhu group claimed that the PU faculty has suffered a lot in the past. — TNS
