DIMAPUR, MAY 29 (MExN): The North East India Confederation of Central Universities Teachers’ Association (NEICCUTA) today joined in on the demand for the withdrawal of show-cause notices served to Nagaland University teachers for having being found absent for poll duty related training.
A press note from the association stated that the district authorities or any other government official should know that central universities are autonomous educational institutions which cannot be equated with other Department of Government. “We reiterate that Central University is not a Government Department,” it said.
The NEICCUTA reminded the district authorities of Kohima not to treat teachers of Nagaland University like school and college teachers under state government in matters of assigning them election duties.
“As Central University teachers, Nagaland University Teachers are entitled to their political rights and they can join political parties. As Teachers, they are not bound by 'political neutrality', which is a precondition for assignment of election duty to a government servant. Further various court judgments also made it clear that central university teachers do not hold a job under a government just as they do not hold any public servants' office. Teachers in central university are given academic and political freedoms keeping in mind teachers' yeomen role in building a democratic society with dissent and difference of ideas and opinions,” the NEICCUTA added.
Demanding that the notices be withdrawn, the association further urged the Minister, Human Resources Development, and Government of India to intervene. It also drew the attention of the Chief Election Commissioner to instruct the state election commissioner to withdraw the show cause notice and inform the latter about “propriety and their own jurisdiction of functioning, and not to encroach upon the rights and responsibilities of university teachers.” It asked the ECI to ensure that such unwarranted action should not be repeated in future.
