NEW DELHI– Classes were suspended in various Delhi Administration schools in the Capital following a teachers strike. The teachers are protesting the decision to send them to Punjab on election duty.
Teachers mobilized in groups went to many administration schools trying to disrupt classes. The president of the Joint Council of Delhi Teachers Organization. Bijender Singh continued his indefinite strike for the seventh day. Eleven other teachers are on a relay-hunger fast with him. Two teachers have also threatened to self-immolate if the election duty orders are not withdrawn by Feb.15.
Bijender Singh in a statement that he had got hold of letter issued by Naresh Chandra cabinet secretary from which it could be deduced that Delhi Administration had “protected” gazette officers who were to be deputed in Punjab. He has appealed to all teachers to continue their non-teaching program. The All India Congress Committee teacher’s cell convener Dr.S.S.Rathi has also expressed solidarity with the teachers. In a Statement he urged the concerned authorities to reach a settlement switch the Joint Council of School Teachers Organizations immediately.
Meanwhile several other organizations have stepped up their agitation against election duty in Punjab. The Northern Railway Promoter Officers Association in a statement said many of them had been arbitrarily chosen for lection duty in Punjab. They protested to the general manager Northern Railway who expressed his inability to change the orders.
The Delhi Development Authority Engineers Association has also moved court against deployment of their officers for lection duty. Besides they are continuing their demonstration against the orders outside: Vikas Sadan.
The Kendriya Vidyalaya teachers are also demonstrating against such orders four teachers are on 8 hunger strikes since on Mondays.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 21, 1992
