Demand to reinstate sacked professor, uniform service rules
SHILLONG: The Meghalaya College Teachers’ Association, St. Edmund’s College (MCTA, SEC) Unit on Monday launched an indefinite protest against the College Governing Body over various issues.
The teachers have demanded dissolution of the governing body, reinstatement of Prof. Jeffreyson Wahlang besides bringing uniform service rules for the teachers.
The MCTA has petitioned the Director Higher and Technical Education for the reinstatement of Wahlang.
The president of MCTA, SEC unit, M.B. Tariang said Wahlang had participated in a peaceful protest on May 20 as per direction of the MCTA, SEC unit.
The secretary of the college wrote to Wahlang on June 12, stating that the Management wants to know if Wahlang willingly participated in the black flag demonstration which included “sit-ins” outside the staff room in the college.
Wahlang in his reply to the secretary of the college stated that it was on the direction of the MCTA and in his capacity as a member of the MCTA that he participated in the protest.
The MCTA SEC unit backed Wahlang and said there has never been any adverse remark or record against him.
The secretary of the College did not provide any reason for relieving Wahlang as an Assistant Professor (probation) of the college with effect from June 29.
Talking to reporters, Tariang said that the college has two posts of teachers, the sanctioned post teachers paid by the government and the college post teachers under the management of the college.
Lamenting that the latest rules for college post teachers, 2018 is like a noose around their neck, he added that they had taken up the matter with the governing body but there was no result despite assurances.
He also informed that Wahlang, was recently summoned and handed a termination letter as the governing body has found his overall performance unsatisfactory.
Meanwhile, another professor and member of the MCTA, Rownea Langrai said that the governing council is trying to follow a divide and rule policy as they have sanctioned post teachers and college post teachers.
Pointing out that recently they brought out rules which are applicable to only college post teachers, Langrai said how they can have two separate rules for teachers in the same institute.
Local bodies extend support
The Workers’ Power of Meghalaya (WPM) and Thma U Rangli-Juki (TUR) extended their solidarity and support to the teachers of St. Edmund’s College and the Meghalaya College Teachers Association.
The federation and TUR believe and have always maintained that all workers and employees should be treated fairly and that employers’ cannot infringe on basic constitutional rights of their workers and employees.