Patiala: The 1158 Assistant Professors and Librarians Front has initiated a fast-unto-death strike near chief minister Bhagwant Mann’s residence in Sangrur, demanding the immediate appointment of the remaining 411 candidates for professor and librarian positions.
Three protesters, including Paramjit Singh (Punjabi subject), Jaswant Singh (Hindi subject), and Surinder Singh Chowdhury (English), began the strike, with others expected to join if any of them are hospitalised.
The protest follows previous clashes with police during a demonstration in Sangrur on Nob 24.
Union members assert that despite a favourable ruling from the Punjab and Haryana high court on Sept 23 allowing the 1,158 recruitments to proceed, the govt has stalled the process for 70 days, leaving 411 candidates without appointments. They also criticised the govt for delays in meeting with education officials, including a failed meeting with the education minister and refusal by the education secretary to engage with the union.
The protesters highlighted ongoing struggles, including a road accident on Nov 10 that injured over 15 people, including Jaswant Singh. They also reported mistreatment during a police crackdown on their protests, including physical harassment of women professors.
Among the candidates still awaiting appointment are 154 English professors, 142 Punjabi professors, 30 Hindi professors, 15 geography professors, 3 education assistant professors, and 67 librarians, Jaspreet Kaur, one of the protesters.
The protesters also argued that the issue is not only about recruitment but about the survival of govt colleges, which have not had regular professor appointments for 25 years.
The protesters warned that the situation has escalated to a life-or-death matter, demanding the govt fulfil its promise and appoint the remaining 411 candidates immediately. If not, they vowed to intensify their protests.