Different teachers’ associations today held a dharna the Mini Secretariat here on Friday to lodge their protest against the working of Sudesh Bajaj, District Education Officer (Secondary), Ludhiana.The teachers alleged that Bajaj had been appointed as DEO (Sec) by flouting the rules. Baldev Singh Mangat, president, Punjab School teachers Union, Joginder Azad, secretary, Democratic Teachers Front, Iqbal Singh, president of Ministerial Staff, and Kamaljeet of Government Teachers Union led the protest.“Bajaj’s appointment defied the orders of Punjab and Haryana High Court, according to which DEO should be appointed on the basis of seniority and merit. We are holding this protest to press our demand for transferring Sudesh Bajaj out of the district on a non-administrative post. Besides we seek action against her on the basis of a file which we have already submitted the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal,” said Baldev Mangat while addressing the gathering.The teachers also condemned the show cause notices issued by Sudesh Bajaj to some teacher on Thursday allegedly to dissuade them from participating the dharna today. “She served these notices to create fear psychosis among teachers. But teachers participated in todays dharna in large number,” the leaders said.The agitators later handed over a memorandum of their demands to the district administration. They demanded that the Chief MInister should act against Bajaj as he “had promised them during the Sangat Darshan held in the city recently.” The leaders warned the government that they would intensify their struggle if their demands were not accepted soon. The teachers also demanded strict action against an office clerk whom the District Education officer has equated as personal Assistant.The teachers demanded that teachers working under Zila Parishad should be brought under the ambit of Education Department, grievances of computer teachers redressed, their salaries be released on time, different projects of Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan streamlined, vacant posts of teachers filled up and stagnation in service removed.
