Cancel teachers’ casual leave, Edu Dept tells schools

Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, October 22

A day before the arranged meeting of Sanjha Adhyapak Morcha leaders with Chief Principal Secretary Suresh Kumar, the Education Department has ordered to cancel the leaves of teachers recruited under the SSA and the RMSA schemes for the next two days.

Fearing participation from more teachers in the ongoing indefinite strike in Patiala, under the banner of the Sanjha Adhyapak Morcha, Education Department, on Monday, has ordered all school heads not to sanction any casual leave to teachers recruited under the SSA and RMSA schemes. 

Moreover, the department has also instructed the head sconcerned to take disciplinary action against teachers who remain absent without prior notice to the competent authority. 

The steps seem to have come after teachers took en masse leaves to strengthen their protest against the government’s decision to regularise them on a monthly salary of Rs 15,300.

Sources have also informed that the decision has been taken sensing possible fallout of the teachers after the proposed meeting with Chief Principal Secretary Suresh Kumar on Tuesday.

However, the department said in any way, loss of studies in schools would not be tolerated. Teachers have already declared to intensify the ongoing strike by initiating “Jail Bharo Andolan” if nothing substantial comes out of the meeting. 

Davinder Punia, union leader, said: “Casual leave is the right of every teacher and the government has no right to cancel the same. We will protest in large numbers if nothing substantial comes out of tomorrow’s meeting.”