Jalandhar, February 3
The state government, it seems, is in no mood to revoke the ban on fresh recruitment of lecturers in government-aided colleges.

As many as 1,500 sanctioned posts of lecturer in these colleges across the state are lying vacant. There are total 3,800 sanctioned posts of lecturers in 136 aided colleges of the state.

The situation has worsened in the past 30 years with new courses adding up in the college curriculum.

From graduate to postgraduate classes, every stream had witnessed a rush of courses, including computer applications, biotechnology, mass media and business management.

At present, the aided colleges in the state run the show with makeshift arrangements and induct lecturers on a part-time basis for the courses.

Importantly, though the leading aided colleges in the state are somehow managing by making part-time arrangements, the small colleges are the ones actually bearing the brunt of the poor educational policies of the government.

According to the Punjab & Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU), if the state government continues to play hide and seek on the matter, nearly 40 per cent small colleges will be on the verge of closure in the coming days.

Talking to The Tribune, union general secretary H.S. Walia said no result has come despite raising the issue with the Education Minister time and again.

“We took up the issue of revoking the ban on fresh recruitment of lecturers with Education Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan on December 18 last year. The union also sent a memorandum to the minister. While another meeting of the union was held on January 21, but again no result,” he added.

It is pertinent to mention here that the state government imposed a ban on fresh recruitment of lecturers in the aided colleges in 2005.

However, the government yielded to the demands of the union and sanctioned 750 posts of lecturers for the aided colleges in 2007.

Even the 95 per cent grant-in-aid scheme, which was started in 1978, too lies defunct and has failed to address the grievances of the aided colleges.

Walia said the state government had sanctioned the posts of lecturers in 1978, which was further revised in 1981. “After December 1, 1981, no revision of posts of lecturers took place thus adding to the woes of the aided colleges. The government seems to have turned a blind eye towards the genuine problems of aided colleges in the state, which would bring a complete downfall of the higher education,” he maintained.

Jasmeet Kaur, Director, Public Instructions, Colleges, said any policy decision in this regard depended on the state government. “Whenever any decision is taken it would be implemented,” she maintained. Education Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan was not available for comments.

Amritsar, February 3
Three rural Medical Officers were injured, two of them seriously, when the vehicle they were travelling in was hit by a Punjab Roadways bus near Khalchian in the wee hours here today.

They along with Rural Veterinary Officers were going to meet Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal regarding their demands. The Medical Officers were waiting for their colleague on the roadside when the incident took place. The bus driver fled after hitting the vehicle.

The victims, identified as Dr Tejinder Pal, Dr Ram Lal and Dr Parampal Singh, were rushed to a private hospital. The condition of Dr Tejinder and Dr Ram Lal, who sustained head injuries, is stated to be serious, though they are out of danger. Dr Parampal, who suffered minor injuries, was discharged after first aid.

Dr Gagandeep Singh Dhillon, press secretary, Rural Veterinary Officers’ Association, revealed that Rrural veterinary officers were in a separate vehicle. They were informed about the accident by Dr Parampal over mobile phone. They rushed back and admitted victims to the hospital.

Ruing the government apathy, the association pointed out that the government had adopted indifferent attitude towards their (rural medical and veterinary officers) genuine demand of regularisation of their jobs. He said they were not even extended medical leave facility and medical allowances as being given to regular employees.

“The department cuts their salaries even in case of medical exigencies as they are not granted medical leaves,” he pointed out, while adding that no authority had come to visit the injured doctors.

Dr Navdeep Singh Khinda, president, Rural Veterinary Officers’ Association, said from now onwards the two associations would jointly fight for the regularisation of their jobs. He said they would intensify their agitation in near future if the government failed to pay any heed to their genuine demands soon.

Amritsar, February 3
Even as the district administration has approached the Commissioner, Jalandhar Division, for holding an independent inquiry into the face-off between lawyers and district transport officials, the Amritsar Bar Association (ABA) today issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the police for registering a case against District Transport Officer Jasbir Singh.

Deputy Commissioner K.S. Pannu in a communication to the Commissioner requested him to appoint an IAS office of Amritsar to conduct a fair and impartial inquiry.

After holding an emergency general house meeting of the ABA today, its president Pardeep Saini said it was unanimously resolved that the members of the ABA would abstain from work till the registration of an FIR against District Transport Officer Jasbir Singh and other persons responsible for the manhandling of the lawyer.

At the expiry of the ultimatum period at 11 am tomorrow (February 4), the members of the Bar association would hold a protest march from the Judicial Complex to the Deputy Commissioner’s office and submit a memorandum regarding the same to the Deputy Commissioner. He said the association would initiate indefinite chain hunger strike in front of the Judicial Complex.

Saini said Arvind Sharma was a registered member of the ABA and had been working under a senior lawyer for the past at least six 

Jalandhar, February 3
Harjander Kaur, wife of the Chamkaur Sahib’s DSP Manminder Singh, has alleged she was facing a threat to her life from her husband after she filed a complaint against him at Division No 6 police station here.

She also demanded certain more sections of the IPC added to a FIR registered against him.

Addressing mediapersons, She alleged that her husband had threatened her of dire consequences after he came to know about a complaint moved against him.

She alleged that police personnel in Jalandhar keep giving him daily updates on the case, registered under Sections 323, 325 and 506 of the IPC.

After getting information from his fellow colleagues, Manminder Singh had been pressurising her to withdraw complaints against him, she alleged. She alleged that Manminder Singh had an illicit relationship with a woman.

Harjander Kaur demanded that Sections 307, 342, 406, 498-A and 120-B of the IPC be added to the FIR.

Refuting allegations, Manminder Singh claimed that he has filed a case seeking divorce from Harjander Kaur. — TNS