Thousands gather at Jind to protest dismissal of Haryana's Physical Training Instructors

Deepender Deswal
Tribune News Service
Jind, July 18

Thousands of former Physical Training Instructors (PTIs) gathered for a meeting here to protest their dismissal from service—a development that comes as Haryana grapples with a rising number of COVID-19 cases.

Sources estimated some 7000-8000 people had gathered at the protest site three months after the Supreme Court upheld Punjab and Haryana High court’s order to cancel the appointment of 1,983 PTIs who were hired in 2010.  The protest got the support of khap panchayats as well two independent Members of Legislative Assembly in the state—Mehram’s Balraj Kundu and Dadri’s Sombir Sangwan, who is also pradhan of Sangwan khap.    

Sarv khap’s national president Nafe Singh Nain said that the khap panchayats would now spearhead the protests and warned that unless the state government reinstates the PTIs, khaps would launch a protest after July 25.

 “This is utter injustice with these PTIs and I government is bent upon ruining the families instead of providing relief to them. The state government has all the powers to ensure justice to them. If the government fails to take note of the miseries of people, the Baroda byelection will push the government to margins”, said Meham MLA Balraj Kundu.

Meanwhile, such a large gathering meant there was little regard given to social distancing protocol, although many of those present were seen wearing masks.

Manoj Ahlawat, duty magistrate at the spot, said the event had no permission from the district administration. “We are keeping a watch on it,” he said.

In April this year, a bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan and Navin Sinha, in the judgement pronounced through video conferencing, upheld the verdicts passed by the single and division benches of the high court quashing the appointment process conducted during the Congress government led by BS Hooda in 2010. It also asked the state staff selection commission to conduct the recruitment process afresh and said the process must be completed within five months.