Don’t hold dharnas: Education Dept to extension lecturers

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Jhajjar, July 20

The Department of Higher Education has instructed extension (guest) lecturers in government colleges across the state not to organise protests for their demands. 

It has described dharna, road blockade and gherao as irresponsible conduct.

A communique in this respect has been shot off to principals of all government colleges from the office of Additional Chief Secretary, Higher Education Department. Principals have been asked to ensure strict compliance with the instructions.

Sources said the instructions had been issued in view of demonstrations being organised by extension lecturers to get their demands met. The lecturers staged dharna at the headquarters from February 28 to March 16. They remained on strike for 27 days last year.

As their protests caused disturbance and adversely affected studies, extension lecturers were asked to avoid protests as their just demands were being positively considered at a higher level, commented an official of the Education Department on the condition of anonymity.

“All extension lecturers are instructed not to indulge in irresponsible behaviour such as dharna, road blockade and gherao on any small pretext, which is unbecoming of the post they are holding,” read the communique sent to principals.

Decrying the instructions, Ishwar Singh, president of the Haryana Extension Lecturers’ Welfare Association, said peaceful protest was the democratic right of every citizen and the department could not snatch it by issuing such a ‘Tughlaqi farman’.

Expressing resentment over non-fulfillment of long-standing demands, he said a committee headed by then Director (Higher Education) Vijay Dahiya was constituted in March to decide on their demands, but most were still pending.

“Job security and salary more than PG guest teachers at government schools are two main demands, but the department is paying no heed. This resulted in around 100 extension lecturers losing jobs this year,” he said. He said PG guest teachers got Rs 36,000 while extension lecturers were paid Rs 25,000 per month.