Yoga college principal previously charged with ‘subversive conduct

Using the powers of initiating disciplinary proceedings under Rule 8 of the Punjab Civil Services (Punishment & Appeal) Rules,1970,as appliocable to employees of the Union Territory of Chandigarh,a probe was marked against Sodhi for these charges. The probe revealed the charges levelled against him to stand fully substantiated.

The UT Administration order issued by the then Education Secretary Anuradha Gupta stated,“On a careful consideration of the enquiry report and representation submitted by K L Sodhi,the UT Administrator is of the opinion that the conduct of K L Sodhi in misusing the warden’s premises,being found in a drunken condition with a young girl in the late hours of the night is not only subversive of discipline in a teaching institute but also failed to maintain absolute devotion to duty and integrity as enjoined on a government servant under Rule 3 of the Punjab Government Employees (Conduct) Rules,1996,as applicable to the employees of Chandigarh. Keeping in view the totality of the circumstances of the case,the UT Administrator has come to the conclusion that a major penalty of withholding of two increments with cumulative effect should be imposed on K L Sodhi.” The UT Education Department marked another probe against Sodhi on Monday,on the basis of students’ complaints. PCS officer Jaswinder Kaur,Chief Executive Officer of Chandigarh Housing Board,has been asked to submit a report on the issue in seven working days. Before this recent probe,an inquiry was conducted on the conduct of K L Sodhi by a three-member committee,which eventually gave him a clean chit as the charges against him could not be substantiated.

Students call off strike

The staff and students of Government College for Yoga Education have called off the strike. The staff of the college met UT Director of Higher Education Ajoy Sharma on Tuesday afternoon and communicated to him their satisfaction with the recent probe marked against K L Sodhi. They assured Sharma that the strike would be called off and classes would be resumed with immediate effect.