Patiala, September 9:- The Punjabi University Contract Teacher Association called for a complete shutdown at various institutions affiliated with Punjabi University on Wednesday, September 9, in protest against the non-implementation of the demands of contract teachers.
The shutdown included 13 constituent colleges, 5 neighbourhood campuses and 4 regional centres. During the shutdown, its impact was witnessed at Punjabi University institutions located in various areas, including Patiala, Barnala, Fatehgarh Sahib, Sangrur, Bathinda, Malerkotla, Mansa, Faridkot, Mohali and Rupnagar.
The association has primarily raised two demands. The first demand is the implementation of the judgment delivered by the Hon’ble High Court in the Rajan Goel case. The second demand is the implementation of UGC guidelines regarding pay scales for contract teachers.
Ramanpreet Singh, General Secretary of the Punjabi University Contract Teacher Association, said that the university authorities themselves acknowledge that the demands of contract teachers are justified, but despite this, they are expressing inability to implement them. He said that if the authorities consider the demands justified, there should be no further delay in implementing them.
He said that all institutions under Punjabi University were shut down today. He also said that the struggle is receiving support from regular teachers as well, and they are standing in support of the demands of contract teachers.
Association President Dr. Taranjit Kaur also demanded the immediate implementation of the Hon’ble High Court’s judgment and UGC guidelines regarding pay. She said that contract teachers have been performing their academic and institutional responsibilities with full dedication for a long time and that their legal and legitimate rights should be implemented.
The association made it clear that the struggle would continue until concrete steps are taken to implement the High Court judgment and UGC guidelines regarding pay scales.