Council adjourned over spot valuation row

Hyderabad, Apr 9 (UNI) Representatives of teachers, who were boycotting the spot valuation of tenth class examinations, today stalled the proceedings of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council to press for their demands.

Demanding a debate on their adjournment motion, which was disallowed, teachers stalled the proceedings for half-an-hour and then forced the adjournment.

Finance and Legislative Affairs Minister K Rosaiah told teachers' leader B Mohana Reddy and others the Education Minister and Chief Minister were favourable towards the demands of teachers and assured that he would arrange a meeting between Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and the Teachers' representativ so that the issue could be sorted out.

He said he could not give any assurance as it was not his department.

Pointing out that police were beating up the agitating teachers and arresting them, Mohana Reddy demanded the arrested teachers to be immediately released and the spot valuation postponed till the problems is answered. Claiming that untrained education volunteers were being used to evaluate the papers, he warned that this would put the careers of 12,000 students in jeopardy.

Debate on the motion of thanks for the Governor's address to both the Houses was to continue in the House. As Chairman A Chakrapani could not take it up, he adjourned the House for half-an-hour.

Members of the Joint Action Committee of Teachers' Organisations (JACTO), which represents majority of teachers, are boycotting the spot valuation, while members of Government Teachers' Association (GTA) are attending it. Of the 26,000 teachers required for the spot valuation, only 3,000 are attending it.

UNI