Punjab: Teachers protest against colleague’s deputation under political pressure in Patiala

PATIALA: Members of the Democratic Teacher Front and SSA/ RMSA union protested outside district education office in Patiala on Monday against the alleged forced deputation of a teacher following political pressure.
They said that the teacher identified as Bhupinder Singh of Mardahedi village of Patiala was posted in Government High School in Bohlar Kalan village of Sanaur block in 2009 and put his lot of successive efforts in making the school a role model. They said that at the time of his joining there were only nine children in the school whereas at present the school comprises over 250 students.
DTF leader and SSA- RMSA teachers’ union press secretary Gagan Ranu said, "The village Congress Sarpanch was seeking a share in the amount of grant disbursed to the school by the state government but Bhupinder Singh who was school head refused to commit any embezzlement. The Sarpanch filed false complaints against Bhupinder of being allied with SAD (B) leaders but he was given clean chit in the inquiry conducted by DEO office Patiala in 2019. Bhupinder has been given appreciation letters twice from DEO Patiala in 2013 and 2015 whereas State Government also appreciated him last year for his work being done for the betterment of the school. The congress Sarpanch under political pressure of a former MLA managed to get shifted Bhupinder Singh to a government school in Pipalhedi village on deputation in February this year for two months. However, amid the Corona pandemic, Bhupinder was again sent on deputation in Pipalhedi village around ten days back without any reason, however, the government schools are yet to be opened. This is being done under political pressure."
The leaders of the Democratic teachers Federation said that the District Education Officer held a meeting with them and withheld the deputation of teacher Bhupinder Singh besides assuring for a fair probe to be conducted in to the matter. The union leaders said that a panel of three school principals was also formed by the DEO in this matter.
They said they would intensify the agitation in case the education department fails to carry out a fair probe in this matter as political interference in such matters where teachers are sent on deputation will not be tolerated.