PUTA flays Punjab govt notification on UGC scales

CHANDIGARH, Feb 23: The Punjab University Teachers8217; Association PUTA has condemned the notification on pay scales announced by the Punjab government saying that it does not follow the guidelines of the University Grants Commission UGC while the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union PCCTU has expressed resentment over non-inclusion of non-government aided colleges in the notification. Both teachers8217; bodies have given a call for rallies on February 26. PUTA president Satya P Gautam and secretary M Rajiv Lochan have accused the government of indulging in a quot;dishonest policy of withholding money and hoodwinkingquot; the teachers, in a statement issued today.

The release states that the Punjab government notification lacks guidelines concerning various increments which in turn would make it practically impossible to fix the revised scales. On the other hand, in a separate releases issued by the local PCCTU president Rabinder Nath Sharma and Finance Secretary NP Manocha, state that the government has violated the September 5, 1998, agreement between the teachers and the HRD Ministry.