Dhumal's reaction on APTT of teachers uncalled for, says HP CM

Shimla, Sep 11 (UNI) Refuting allegations of irregularities in the appointment of teachers under Parent-Teachers Association (PTA) scheme, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today said former chief minister P K Dhumal's reactions on the issue was ''premature and uncalled for.'' ''The appointment of teachers under the scheme is totally a stop gap arrangement in the absence of regular teachers and no irregularities have been made in the appointment's'' he told reporters here.

Mr Singh was reacting to the former chief minister's press conference at Nahan yesterday wherein he had accused the state government of appointing their favourites as teachers under the scheme, while announcing to reverse the scheme after coming to power in the state.

He said since the appointment of a regular teacher took about one and a half years to formalise, the appointment of the teachers under the PTA scheme was necessary to prevent loss of studies to the students.

The PTA have been authorised to appoint teachers on merit and on need basis, he said.

The Chief Minister said that besides, the move was to prevent the exploitation of educated youth by providing them uniform salaries in the state.

Replying to a question that the pictures of HP hydel projects had been found on a Tibetan website, he said though there was no security threat, the home ministry officials were told about the development.

He said as a precautionary measure, the security authorities had been alerted accordingly.

UNI AS HS PK DB1957