The district administration in Jalandhar has ordered the withholding of salaries of at least 84 schoolteachers for failing to perform assigned tasks under the Drug and Socio-Economic Survey conducted by the Punjab state government. The move has sparked protests from teachers' bodies, who call it coercive and claim that participation in the survey was meant to be voluntary.
Administration Cites Negligence of Duty
According to official letters issued on June 23 and 24, the teachers were appointed as enumerators for the survey and were instructed to report to the election cell office on June 11 and again on June 23. Despite show-cause notices and repeated telephone reminders, they did not report for duty. The authorities described the survey as an important and time-bound government exercise, stating that the employees' absence amounted to negligence and violation of official orders.
The letters directed drawing and disbursing officers (DDOs) and school heads to withhold the June salaries of the defaulting teachers. School heads were also instructed not to allow the teachers to mark attendance or rejoin duties without prior approval from the competent authority.
Teachers' Unions Cry Foul
Teachers' unions have criticized the administration's action, arguing that the government had earlier announced that participation in the survey would be voluntary. Karnail Singh Phillaur, district president of the Government Teachers' Union, said, “Teachers are not willing to take up these duties because the government had announced that participation would be voluntary. Now, to compel us, the administration is resorting to salary withholding orders.”
Avtar Lal, district secretary of the Democratic Teachers' Front, alleged that immense pressure was being mounted on teachers and school heads to carry out the survey. “The authorities are pressuring us to enrol for the survey. Those who refused are now being threatened, which is unfair,” he said.
Teacher Claims Medical Certificate Ignored
Swaran Singh, one of the teachers facing the salary freeze, said he had submitted a medical certificate and was assured that his duty would be waived. However, he continued to receive calls and warnings that his salary would be withheld if he did not report for duty. “I had submitted my medical certificate and was assured that my duty would be waived. However, even after that, I am receiving repeated calls and warnings that my salary will be withheld if I do not report for duty,” he said.
ADC Promises Review, Cites Enumerator Shortage
Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) Divya P said the order would be reviewed and discussions would be held with teachers to encourage participation. She stated that such a strict measure would not be taken and noted that only about 40 per cent of the survey had been completed in Jalandhar, with a shortage of 300 enumerators. “Only around 40 per cent of the survey has been completed in Jalandhar and we are still facing a shortage of 300 enumerators, which may have led to these directions. We will deploy staff from schools where no survey duties have yet been assigned to bridge the gap,” she said.
