Karnataka threatens to act against PU lecturers

BANAGALORE: With pressure building up on the state government to solve the ongoing PU lecturers’ crisis, Principal Secretary for Primary and Secondary Education G Kumar Naik warned that the government would “come down hard” if the agitating lecturers did not resume valuation from Sunday.Naik told reporters on Saturday that there was a clear disconnect between the leadership of the PU lecturers’ association and other members. “If we get any inkling that these leaders are taking advantage of the situation at the cost of the lecturers’ feelings, we will certainly act. If leaders try to politicise the issue, we will not spare them,” warned Naik.He clearly stated that lecturers have to report to evaluation duty from Sunday. “We do not have a plan B. There is no way we can replace 15,000 lecturers. The lecturers have to come to work. Let them tell me that they will not, and I will initiate action,” he said.Asked if he would invoke the Essential Services Maintenance Act in case lecturers do not show up, he said, “As secretary, I can dismiss them, initiate departmental inquiry or police action. We will cross the Lakshman Rekha once we get there. For now, the lecturers have to show up,” he maintained.“The government is focused on the drought situation. We have conceded to all their demands. How can we run the show if we buckle down? This is not the right time and right method to act in such a manner,” he said, adding that most lecturers were content with their present Rs 29,400 scale.Rashmi V, Commissioner for PU Education said the department needed 10 days to finish valuation, provided lecturers report to duty on Sunday. “There are close to 31.5 lakh answer scripts to be evaluated. We are incurring a loss of almost Rs 1.5 crore every day,” she said. If all goes well, then results would be out by April-end.”