Facing staff crunch, no exemption to profs from poll duty: Shawkat

Ravneet Singh

Tribune News Service

Patiala, April 19

Patiala Deputy Commissioner (DC)-cum-District Election Officer Kumar Amit has decided not to provide any blanket exemption to Punjabi University professors from the 2019 General Election duty due to shortage of staff.

The professors had been protesting against their deputation on election duty since Tuesday. Recently, around 100 professors submitted applications to the university authorities seeking permission for contesting the Lok Sabha polls and had contacted the the Chief Minister’s office in this regard.

The also met District Election officer and and State Election Commission officials for cancellation of their election duty but to no avail. 

Shawkat Ahmad Parrey, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC)-cum- Additional District Election Officer, said the professors cannot be exempted from duty as the electoral office was facing shortage of staff. “We are currently running low on staff. If we had an option, we would have exempted them. We have already received 200 applications for exemption from election duty. We cannot depute officials who are set to retire in next six months. We will not be able to give them a blanket exemption. We will exempt genuine cases.”

The professors said, “We are protesting to uphold the rights given to us as per the university calendar. The calendar gives us the right to contest election and also take part in political developments in the country.” 

They said their protests were being seen as a step to evade election duty. “It is not so. We can do the duty. However, it is our right to participate and contest polls,” they said.

Professor Yograj, HoD, Department of Development of Punjabi Language said, “We have contacted the Chief Minister’s office, who said our duties should be cancelled as per mandate regarding freedom of the university professors to participate and contest elections as mentioned in the varsity calendar.”

Meanwhile, Shawkat denied receiving any message from the Chief Minister’s office. He said the university officials had also contacted the office of the Chief Election Officer, Punjab, who said the decision would be taken by the District Election Officer only.

We are currently running low on staff. If we had an option, we would have exempted them. We have already received 200 applications for exemption from election duty. We cannot depute officials who are set to retire in next six months. We will not be able to give them a blanket exemption. We will exempt genuine cases. — Shawkat Ahmad Parrey, Additional Deputy Commissioner