About 33,000 teachers are part of the protests taking place in Tamil Nadu by government employee union and their boycott of classes and absence will be considered unauthorized, the state government told the Madras High Court on Thursday.
The teachers have been protesting along with other government employees to implement seventh pay commission.
Justice N Kirubakaran said, “The period of absence has been declared as unauthorised absence. Disciplinary actions would be initiated as per rules. Arrangements have been made to engage trainee teachers and [mem bers] of parent-teacher associations to conduct classes,“ reported The Times of India.
The judge on Wednesday censured teachers for boycotting classes and participating in protests. The judge said that the court was not against legitimate protests but it will not tolerate when it is affecting the children.
This came after an advocate AP Suryaprakasam had filed a petition asking the government to file an expert committee to advise and school students who have secured low marks in NEET. He also wanted the committee to give them psychological and moral support.
He also asked if the teachers would boycott classes if their only children were studying in government schools. The judge stated this after government initiated action against the protesting teachers and they would have face a pay cut for the days they boycotted the classes, reported ToI.
Government stated that on Wednesday about 33, 487 teachers participated in the protests and it was carried out by six recognised unions with other unrecognised unions.
On Wednesday, Justice Kirubakaran had stated that such strikes and boycotts were the reason for government school students’ low marks in NEET. He said that only five state board students have secured medical seats and the teachers should be ashamed of this fact and should know their responsibility. He had asked the government to file a report by September 18 about the steps taken against these protesting teachers.