Shillong: The Meghalaya government’s decision barring employees, including teachers, lecturers, professors etc., from participating in any political activities has disappointed some people.
Members of the newly-created party, the Voice of the People Party (VPP), met with the chief minister on Monday, urging the government to withdraw the notification or rectify it.
Speaking with media persons, VPP president Ardent Basaiawmoit said as a party, they were shocked by the govt’s decision. “We have reminded the CM about the constructive and active role of the teaching community, especially in the preceding years of statehood and also during hill state movement. They have made an immense contribution to the state,” said Basaiawmoit.
The party reminded the chief minister how the state produced many stalwarts from the teaching fraternity. This included Prof GG Swell (who was instrumental in establishing NEHU in Shillong), Prof MN Majaw (who brought about the Meghalaya Transfer of Land (Regulation) Act, 1971), Hoover Hynniewta (an eloquent Member of the 2nd Lok Sabha), and several others.
Basaiawmoit also reminded the CM in case he isn’t aware, the university and college teachers are governed by UGC Regulation. So, the state cannot arbitrarily make such rules on university and college teachers.
“We have submitted a letter on this matter. We have also mentioned Paragraph 17.0 of the 2018 UGC Regulations deals with the Code of Professional Ethics of Teachers. Serial number (iv) of sub-para VII of this paragraph states that teachers should ‘Perform the duties of citizenship, participate in community activities and shoulder responsibilities of public offices,'” stated the VPP president.
In May 2019, the UGC decided that teachers in universities and colleges elected as Members of Parliament or Members of State Legislature can continue their teaching duties while at the same time executing the functions as MPs and MLAs without the necessity of taking any leave if they so desire.
Furthermore, the VPP has also cited in its letter that it has been well established by the Division Bench of the Gauhati High Court in WA. No. 14 of 2001, dated 07-12-2005 that employees in a government-aided educational institution are not government employees.
“So, therefore, teachers in college and university cannot be barred from taking part in politics and holding the post in any political organisation. We have urged them to withdraw this notification. This irrational, unconstitutional and discriminatory notification must be withdrawn immediately,” said Basaiawmoit.
The Chief Minister has assured that the govt will relook into this notification, Basaiawmoit informed.
The Deputy Secretary to the Govt of Meghalaya education department, D Lyngdoh, issued a notification dated November 8, 2021, to the North-Eastern Hill University, all the Deputy Commissioners, schools and others mentioning about baring of employees including teachers, lecturers, professors etc., for holding an office of any political organisation or local bodies.
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