LHC orders Punjab govt not to take action against teachers

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LAHORE: Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice (CJ) Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry on Tuesday directed the Punjab government not to take any disciplinary action against teachers of public-sector colleges who protested against establishing board of governors (BoG) in educational institutions on December 9 and were tortured by police. The LHC CJ issued these orders while proceeding on a suo motu notice against police torture of protesting teachers and students outside the Punjab Assembly. The teachers’ counsel informed the court that his clients were facing departmental action threats from high-ups.
Terming the case highly important, the LHC CJ ordered fixing the case before a divisional bench for hearing on December 20. Earlier, Punjab Additional Advocate General Hanif Khatana informed the court that BoGs were working in 10 public-sector educational institutions of Punjab including the Government College University Lahore, Queen Marry College Lahore, Government College Chuna Mandi Lahore, Kinnaird College Lahore and the Government Boys College Faisalabad.
He said after establishing the BOGs, performance of these colleges had improved. Khatana said that the Punjab Education Department transferred teachers even in those colleges where BoGs were present and teachers were protesting for their vested interests. On teachers and students protests against introduction of four-year bachelor degrees, he said that the Punjab government had made the programme to uplift standards of bachelor degrees. The Punjab additional advocate general said that Pakistani students had to face problems abroad, as four-year bachelor degrees were recognised worldwide. The LHC CJ asked teachers not to decide the matter on roads, as the court was hearing it. He said that everyone should work together for the country’s progress.
During the case’s previous hearing, DIG (Operations) Rao Sardar submitted his report while Punjab Additional Advocate General Hanif Khatana read the report stating that the Punjab Police inspector general or any other high-ranking official, including DIGs, did not order torture on students despite the fact that they broke into the Punjab Assembly main gate.