A year after Punjab education department decided to get tough on teachers who are on ex-India leave and started proceedings for terminating the services of 100 such staffers who have overstayed their leave without permission, the department has once again backed down. The obvious reason for this rethink is apparently the assembly polls next year.
One year back, the education department had made it compulsory for a teacher, wanting ex-India leave, to submit an affidavit saying he/she would be deemed to have resign if he/she doesn't join back by a specified date. The reason for this was that many teachers did not return to the country, but claimed all post-retirement benefits.
But one year down the line, and with assembly elections fast approaching, the 'mellowed' ruling party leaders are using their influence in getting foreign leave for teachers who are close to their voters, without bothering about rules and regulations.
In the last four months, the state education department has cleared over 100 applications and most of the teachers submitted no affidavits. They only gave an assurance that they would join duty by the specified date. They have to thank for this.
Apparently with an eye on the polls, Sekhwan, clearly in a please-all mood, said the teacher could submit an affidavit later. "The large number of formalities cause unnecessary delay in the applicant getting leave" he pointed out. But the officials in education department said this change in approach has put them in a very embarrassing situation.
"As per rules, we cannot clear an application until it is accompanied by the self-declaratory affidavits, but as these requests are being cleared by the minister, we can neither object, nor forward these applications for necessary action,'' said a senior officer in education department.
After many reprimands failed to rein in the teachers, in June 2010, the had decided the sack teachers who had overstayed abroad, some for over seven years.
Initially, the staffers get six-month 'no-pay' ex-India leave and go abroad. Then, they keep on extending their leave on one pretext or the other, even citing poor health as a hurdle in air travel.
One year back, the education department had made it compulsory for a teacher, wanting ex-India leave, to submit an affidavit saying he/she would be deemed to have resign if he/she doesn't join back by a specified date. The reason for this was that many teachers did not return to the country, but claimed all post-retirement benefits.
But one year down the line, and with assembly elections fast approaching, the 'mellowed' ruling party leaders are using their influence in getting foreign leave for teachers who are close to their voters, without bothering about rules and regulations.
In the last four months, the state education department has cleared over 100 applications and most of the teachers submitted no affidavits. They only gave an assurance that they would join duty by the specified date. They have to thank for this.
Apparently with an eye on the polls, Sekhwan, clearly in a please-all mood, said the teacher could submit an affidavit later. "The large number of formalities cause unnecessary delay in the applicant getting leave" he pointed out. But the officials in education department said this change in approach has put them in a very embarrassing situation.
"As per rules, we cannot clear an application until it is accompanied by the self-declaratory affidavits, but as these requests are being cleared by the minister, we can neither object, nor forward these applications for necessary action,'' said a senior officer in education department.
After many reprimands failed to rein in the teachers, in June 2010, the had decided the sack teachers who had overstayed abroad, some for over seven years.
Initially, the staffers get six-month 'no-pay' ex-India leave and go abroad. Then, they keep on extending their leave on one pretext or the other, even citing poor health as a hurdle in air travel.
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