PTA to continue, says Dhumal

Shimla, Apr 8 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh government today decided to continue the services of the PTA teachers in the state.

Making a statement in the Assembly, Mr Dhumal said, ''keeping with the views of members of the House on the issue and shortage of teachers in educational institutions, the government has decided that the services of PTA teachers will continue as per the education code, grant-in-aid to PTA rule 2006 and directions of the High Court in a civil writ petition, Shailja versus state government.'' He said the government had also decided to adopt a proper procedure to redress many complaints against irregularities in PTA appointments at several places.

''Our purpose is to honour the fair selection and to give justice to all those deserving and meritorious candidates, who were not selected,'' Mr Dhumal said.

He said the complainant would have to give his complaint with an affidavit to the committees, which would be different for schools and colleges.

Mr Dhumal said the committee at the college-level woould comprise Deputy Commissioner/ADC/ADM, principal and the subject matter specialist. The committee for senior secondary school and high school would have ADC/ADM/SDM, principal and subject matter specialist and for middle school, the committee would comprise SDM, headmaster or subject matter specialist.

The Chief Minister said the complainants and the affected people would be heard by the complaint redressal committee personally and it would also make a recommendation to the PTA, based on the norms of education department and directions of the High Court.

''We are also notifying the process of appeal against the recommendation of these committees,'' he said, adding that the whole process had been made transparent to restore the faith of people.

The Chief Minister said the government would follow all the recruitment related directions of the Supreme Court and also adopt complete transparency in the process.

UNI AS PS SW BD1925