JAMMU: Despite tireless endeavors of “hidden hands” to play spoilsport with a motive to engineer division among the teachers, the entire teaching fraternity in General Body Meeting on Monday firmly resolve to support resolution of Jammu University Teachers Association (JUTA) to continue its pen down strike for three more working days to be followed by relay hunger strike in support of their demands.
The marathon GBM of JUTA runs for more than four hours during which teachers voiced their concern over procedural lapses committed by CASH committee while concluding its inquiry in haste against Prof. Chandra.
Interestingly, under intense criticism from teachers as well as civil society for haste inquiry, Prof. Alka Sharma announces her resignation from Convenor of CASH committee as well as basic membership of JUTA.
Confirming the development, JUTA President, Prof. Srivastav said “Indeed, resignation announced by CASH convenor in GBM but things will be clear only after issuance of notification by varsity administration.”
Further asserting that the four hour long GBM has further strengthened the JUTA and a blow for those working to foil our agitation, Prof. Srivastav told JK Global News “The GBM was attended by 170 teachers and everyone unanimously supported the resolution of JUTA to continue pen down strike for CBI probe and removal of all officers prime facie responsible for issuance of suspension order by trampling laid down procedures.”
Though the office bearers of JUTA prefers to avoid revealing as to what compel the VC to call them for two hour long meeting on Sunday, however, reliable sources in JUTA alleged “To puncture our agitation launched to seek justice for our deceased colleague there are attempts by an identified group to engineer division among us and Sunday development on campus was a veil warning to weaken our zeal and determination”.
Following the death Prof. Shekhar under mysterious circumstances in the department of Psychology on Wednesday Sep 7th, 2022, the JUTA is on pen down strike which further extended till Sep 22nd.
If the stalemate continues, the JUTA compel to start relay hunger strike from Sep 26th, avers JUTA Vice President Prof. Manoj Bhat. “Our demands are genuine and fair investigation is impossible until the CBI take over the probe and all those whose names are doing the rounds are removed from their positions” added Prof. Manoj.
Besides CBI Probe, the JUTA is demanding removal of Registrar, DSW, HoD Psychology Prof. Arti Bakshi and Convenor CASH-Prof. Alka Sharma from their positions which may hamper the impartial probe into Shekhar’s death.
Meanwhile, wife of deceased Shekhar on Monday called on VC in his office chamber and demanded CBI probe as well her adjustment as teacher on compassionate ground in the varsity besides all documents pertaining to haste inquiry which results in death of her spouse under mysterious circumstances. The VC Prof. Umesh Rai expressed sympathy with the bereaved wife of Shekhar and assured to look into her demands empathetically.