Is describing someone as Mohammad Bin Tughlaq, the Sultan of Delhi in 14th century, unparliamentary? Can this invite harsh punishment? Yes, if an order of the Haryana govt terminating a school teacher is to be believed.
Ajay Walia, 40, who was working as trained graduate teacher (TGT) for English in a Yamunanagar district govt school was dismissed by the Haryana govt after he objected to an “irrational & impractical” order of the state education department ordering distribution of raw ration to students under mid-day-meal (MDM) scheme during the ongoing lockdown due to Covid-19.
The state govt dismissed Walia by exercising 'doctrine of pleasure' under Article 311of the Constitution without any notice, warning or inquiry. He had allegedly uploaded a video on his Facebook, objecting to the state govt’s directions to provide dry ration to children during the lockdown.
Teacher says punished for raising genuine issue
The dismissal order served to Walia, says, “You haven't only instigated/provoked the teachers/ MDM in-charges in the state of Haryana addressing them not to comply with directions & guidelines but also called the officers with un-parliamentary nomenclature —Mohammad Bin Tughlaq.”
Unfazed by his dismissal, Walia made it clear that he will not delete the Facebook video. Claiming to have support from teachers' unions & other quarters, Walia has now uploaded one more video on his Facebook wall explaining how the govt’s decision asking teachers to distribute dry ration & money was irrational & impractical.
The Haryana govt on Mar 20 had directed teachers to distribute 550 gm wheat & 450 gm rice along with cooking cost of Rs 44.80 to the students of primary classes & 825 gm wheat & 675 gm rice along with cooking cost of Rs 67.10 to the students of upper primary classes. The amount of ration & cooking cost was for 10 days.
“My objection was that this isn't useful for the children. How can child of primary class be able to get 550 gm wheat converted into flour or how would they withdraw Rs 44.80 from the bank? Which ATM would allow him to withdraw this amount? It was just a formality & a completely irrational order hurriedly taken by the state govt. If they really wanted to help the students, they should have asked us to distribute some cooked items, which otherwise would have helped the children during the lockdown,” Walia said in his second video, which till now has around 60,000 views.
He also claimed that at a time when PM Narendra Modi as well as all health experts were advising to maintain social distance, what if the students or teachers were infected during this mid-day meal excercise. “Even otherwise, MDM isn't being distributed for around 100 of 365 days in a year on account of summer vacations, gazetted holidays or other non-working days but not a single case of malnutrition has been reported, “ he added.
Walia claimed he has been unnecessarily punished because he raised a genuine issue & had objected to an irrational practice by the department. According to him, in his 16 years of experience as a teacher, he has been never been charge-sheeted or punished for any mistake.
“I will wait till the minister’s assurance & if nothing is done, I will challenge the order before the Punjab & Haryana HC,” he added.
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