Mokokchung, 28 September (MTNews): The Rising People’s Party (RPP) has condemned a recent notification issued by the Directorate of School Education (DoSE) that threatens teachers with disciplinary action for speaking out about their grievances, including the non-payment of salaries.
The RPP described the notification as “highly insensitive and condemnable,” and said that it was a “misuse of Rule 25 of the Nagaland Government Servants Conduct Rules, 1968.”
The party also demanded to know why the DoSE had not made any attempt to study or understand how the late or irregular payment of salaries affected the teaching and learning process in government schools.
The RPP also asked whether the officers and non-teaching staff of the directorate and district offices got their salaries on time.
The party said that it wanted to know what was stopping the state government from paying the salaries of teachers, and reminded it that the salary component of government employees was budgeted.
The RPP also warned the DoSE that there were legal consequences for delayed or non-payment of salaries and wages, as per the Supreme Court’s observation.
The RPP’s condemnation of the DoSE notification comes against the backdrop of the All Nagaland School Teachers’ Association (ANSTA) and Nagaland Government Higher Secondary Schools’ Employee Association (NGHSSEA) calling for a pen-down strike for non-payment of salaries.
The RPP demanded that the Directorate of School Education should immediately withdraw its 25 September 2023 notification. It also said that demanding the release of salaries which is rightly due to the teachers is not “prejudicial to the interest and sovereignty of India” as pointed out by the notification.