‘State can invoke MESMA against agitating teachers if talks fail’

Jadhav said the issue of regularisation of non-NET /SET teachers appointed between September 19,1991 and April 3,2000 was proving to be a bone of contention between government and agitating teachers during talks,while the other demand of releasing arrears under Sixth Pay Commission was almost resolved.

Meanwhile,the office of the joint director (higher education),Pune region,which has already issued orders to apply ‘no work no pay’ policy against agitating teachers and has been compiling data on teachers attendance on daily basis as per government orders,has said that agitating teachers’ may not get salary from the date since the practical examinations of the University of Pune were put off.

“We have compiled data on teachers’ attendance from March 15. The teachers who did not shoulder the responsibility of examination work could lose their salary for the period. We are awaiting final instructions from the government to take an action,” said S S Shete,joint director (higher education),Pune region.

As per official data for Pune region,of the total 4,528 teachers,as many as 3,108 teachers were absent on Thursday,the Day 1 UoP’s March/ April 2013 examination .

Confirming that he has received invitation for talks with the government,MFUCTO president Shivaji Patil said he was hopeful of positive outcome during negotiations. “Our meetings with the government in recent past did not yield any result as leaders and authorities concerned repeated the stand rejected by us,” he said.

On possible action against teachers under MESMA and ‘no work no pay’ rule,he said the government should check the legalities of such steps before actually taking them up.