Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Friday directed Maharashtra government to file an affidavit by May 25 enumerating what steps it had taken against the teachers of various universities who had resorted to an indefinite strike.
The court also directed the state to mention in the affidavit the status of their demands and measures to evaluate answer sheets of graduate and post graduate courses.
The direction was given by a bench of vacation court comprising Justice AM Thipsay and Justice RD Dhanuka who were hearing a petition filed by Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) seeking action against the striking college and university teachers.
ABVP said 13 lakh students of various graduate and post graduate courses had been affected as their answer sheets remained unchecked, with the teachers going on strike to press for their demands including implementation of sixth pay recommendations.
ABVP pleaded for a direction to the state government to ensure that the answer papers were corrected immediately and the results were declared on time. It also prayed for action against the striking teachers.
ABVP argued that it was the duty of the teachers to
examine the answer papers of students so that the results were declared within 30-45 days of the examinations. Even though the 45-day period expired today, the answer papers still remained uncorrected.
Maharashtra Federation of University and College Teachers` Organization (MFUCTO) today filed an affidavit justifying the strike. It said the state government was not even ready to discuss their demands and hence the teachers were compelled to go on strike.
Counsel of North Maharashtra University, AB Girase told the court that striking teachers of colleges affiliated to the university were warned to participate in the Central assessment programme or face action, including cancellation of affiliation of colleges to the university.
PTI
