EDUCATION

Expelled teachers were ‘running parallel union’
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 21
The issue of expulsion of two teachers of the local Arya College from the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU) fails to die down with the office-bearers of the union claiming that the duo were expelled from the teachers body since they were running a parallel union and showed no regard for the directives of the PCCTU.

In a joint statement issued to the press, Prof Kanwaljit Singh, secretary, Prof Kuldip Singh and Prof V.K. Bhardwaj, members of the central executive of the PCCTU and Prof. Parminder Singh, district President of the PCCTU claimed that the central union of the PCCTU felt constrained to take action against them and at its meeting on January 19, 2003, at Doraha and unanimously decided to expel Prof. A.K. Handa and Prof, Davinder Joshi from the primary membership of the PCCTU.

The office-bearers said the PCCTU had also issued show-cause notices to 10 other teachers who supported them in running a parallel union. So, their allegations that they have become the victim of dirty politics is baseless rather they themselves are responsible for the action taken against them.

The leaders said these two lecturers of the Arya College, had been indulging in anti-teacher and anti-union activities since March, 2002. They had formed a union without holding the elections which was not recognised by the central body of the PCCTU. On the other hand, central executive of the PCCTU, on the basis of the report of the fact- finding team, held the democratically elected team headed by Prof Walia and Prof R. L. Behl valid, they added.

They claimed that Prof. Walia’s team was recognised not only by the outgoing central executive headed by Prof K.B.S. Sodhi and Prof Jaspal Randhawa but also by the present central executive of the PCCTU headed by Prof. S.S. Hundal and Prof. V.K. Tiwari.

The leaders further said the central executive had warned Prof. A.K. Handa and Prof. Davinder Joshi from time to time against running a parallel union and thereby weaken the cause of the union. ‘‘When they did not desist from issuing parallel notices, they were served show-cause notices to explain their position by November 30, 2002. Instead of responding to the show-cause notice, they again issued a parallel notice.’’

Meanwhile, the Arya College Teachers Union has welcomed the decision of the central executive of the PCCTU to expell Prof. Handa and Prof Joshi form the PCCTU. The union alleged that the two were misusing the official pads of the legally recognised unit of the PCCTU. ‘‘Whereas the officially recognised union had waged a struggle for the fulfillment of the genuine demands of the teachers, these two office-bearers of the so-called union did not stand by the teachers’ cause and issued parallel notices to create confusion amongst the teachers and thus worked for weakening the cause if teachers.’’ alleged the leaders.

‘‘The claim of Prof Handa and Prof Joshi enjoying the confidence of the majority is baseless which has been proved by the recent defeat of Prof. Joshi and Prof. H.S. Sidhu in the election of the ACMC held on November 30, 2002. Even during the elections of ACTU held in March 2002, as many as 48 teachers voted for the team led by Prof. Walia and Prof R.L. Behl.’’ said Prof Prem Walia and Prof. R.L. Behl.

Decision on BDS course ‘unfair’: students
Kanchan Vasdev
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 21
Hundreds of students in the first semester of the BDS courses of Baba Farid University in various colleges of the state are up in arms against the university, after the High Court has told the university to reconduct admissions after counselling.

Their future is in jeopardy because of the university’s “wrong decision”.

The BFU had admitted only those students who had given this course as their first choice in application forms. Admission had been denied to students who were in the merit list, but had written “MBBS only” in the options column in forms.

These students, after failing to find seats in the MBBS courses, had applied to the university, seeking admission to the BDS course, but the authorities had taken a policy decision not to admit them. Disappointed at the decision, these students had moved the High Court.

The High Court had, then, directed the university to reconduct the counselling session and give chance to the petitioners. The counselling is to be held on January 23.

Many students who have already spent four months in the first semester, say that the university’s decision may make them lose a year, if the petitioners replace them.

The students said, at that time, the petitioners had raised the issue with the university, but the authorities had stuck to their decision.

The candidates who had given the BDS course as one of their preferences, were admitted in various dental colleges of the state as per their merit and choice. The admissions were “confirmed”.

The admitted students now fear that they may not only lose the BDS seats, bus also be denied admission to the BAMS or DHMS courses that they would have opted had the university not denied admission to the petitioners.

“The university should have pleaded its case well in the High Court. We spent money on fees, books and tuitions and now our children may have to vacate the seats,” said Mr Charanjit Singh, father of a BDS student.

He said: “My daughter left confirmed seat in the industrial microbiology course of Guru Nanak Dev University of Amritsar, where she was ranked 15, to join the BDS course at Ludhiana. Now, she is disappointed and can’t prepare afresh for the PMT as only three months are left for preparation. The university should not play with the future of children.”

Diamond jubilee celebrations in GCW
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 21
Government College for Women started week-long cultural celebrations as part of its diamond jubilee celebrations from today. The Old Students Association of GCW organised inter-college competitions. The first event was the inter-college poetry-recitation competition, organised by Dr Amarjit Singh Dua.

Dr Inderjit Kaur Gill Vashisht, Principal, GCW, welcomed the chief guest, Mr Surjit Patar, by presenting a bouquet. The function commenced by lighting of a lamp by the chief guest.

Many old students of the club were present on the occasion. All major colleges of the city participated in the event. The judges for the competition were Principal Ashok Kapoor, Prof S.S. Khurana and Prof Kulwant Jagraon. There were two representatives from each college. Participants recited poems in Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu and English.

The guest of honour was Mr Ram Nanda. Ms Sarabjot Kaur, secretary, Old Students Association, presented the vote of thanks.

PCCTU plans agitations
Our Correspondent

Doraha, January 21
A meeting of the state executive committee of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union was held at Guru Nanak National College, here, according to a press note of Prof Kuldip Singh, an executive member of the union.

Cut in grants and non-implementation of pension-cum-gratuity scheme by the Punjab Government were discussed prominently.

Prof Kuldip Singh said the union would hold a dharna in front of the Chief Minister’s residence at Patiala on February 4; on February 12 at Jalandhar; on February 19 again at Patiala; on February 26 in Ludhiana; and on March 5 in all colleges of Punjab.