Stage protest only with district admn’s nod: HC to teachers
STIR WITHOUT NOD: MORE THAN 150 GOVT EMPLOYEES BOOKED
CHANDIGARH : The Punjab and Haryana high court on Friday directed the teacher unions, which have planned a dharna in Patiala on December 2, to hold the protest only with the permission of the district administration.
The high court bench of justices Krishna Murari and Arun Palli, while issuing notice to the state government and unions for December 7, made it clear that dharna held without the permission of authorities will be treated as illegal and organisers would have to face consequences.
The high court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) by a lawyer, Mohit Kapoor, against the protest and seeking direction to state government to ensure law and order. Teachers’ unions of Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan with the support from farmers and student groups have announced the protest for December 2 in Patiala against the government decision of reducing their salaries from ₹40,000 to ₹15,000 under a service regularisation scheme.
The matter was taken up for urgent hearing in the morning following which state’s advocate general Atul Nanda, chief secretary Karan Avtar Singh and DGP Suresh Arora were summoned by the court. Though Singh could not turn up, Arora and Nanda were heard by the bench in chamber following which these directions were issued.
The court said that associations have the right of agitation for consideration of their lawful demands, but the right is of ‘peaceful’ agitation and no one can be allowed to take law in their own hands.
The court was informed by Nanda that prohibitory orders have been issued by the administration against any protest and police are geared up to face the situation.
The court ordered that for the protest if allowed, protesters
won’t carry any firearm, and it will be held only at a designated place allotted by authorities. Directions have been issued to videograph the protest. The government has also been told to file a status report.