Shimla: Notorious for it politics among students and teachers, the High Court here today disbanded teachers for taking part in any political activity at Himachal Pradesh University and directed the police to conduct search operations of the boys hostels.
Hearing a petition over students forced out of hostels rooms because of a violent clash between two groups on the campus and at a time when annual examinations are being conducted, the division bench of Chief Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice Dharam Chand Chaudhary directed the inspector general of police to undertake a search operation of the boys’ hostel.
Listing the matter for tomorow, the court directed the police that an inventory of weapons and objectionable materials found during the search be made and removed from the campus.
Taking note of some university teachers indulging in political activities on campus, the bench pointed out that Ordinance 35.20 of the first ordinance of HP University, 1973 promulgated that “no employee shall take part in any political activity.”
The judges observed, “The expression employee includes the teacher as well. The only permission given to the teacher is to contest in the State Assembly/Parliamentary election and for that, they are to be granted leave of the kind due.”
The court directed the Vice-chancellor to enforce the order about debarring teachers from taking part in any political activity.
The bench further decreed the Vice-chancellor that he treat any violations as indiscipline and take action, including suspension, should any employee, be it a teacher is found taking part in any political activity.
Observing that the current round of students’ unrest flared up because of a forcible entry into a girl’s college, the court directed principal of RKMV College to post security guards on the gate and restrict entry.
The orders came in a petition by Lallan Rai, who has brought before the court the problems being faced by the students after the university authorities closed the boys’ hostels for an indefinite period.
Photo: Amit
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads a team of media professionals at Hill Post.
Spanning a career of over two decades in mass communication, as a Documentary Filmmaker, TV journalist, Print Media journalist and with Online & Social Media, he brings with him a vast experience. He lives in Shimla.
