Chairperson Anjali Naik of education committee BMC raised questions on misuse of powers by Bellale assistant commissioner while suspending the BMC teachers.
Mumbai: Amid lockdown, a senior official of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has not only surpassed another senior officials but has also kept the entire education committee in dark while suspending teachers from the BMC schools, alleged the education committee.
The Education Committee of BMC is under shock and trying to assess the BMC act under which senior officials have been surpassed while suspending the teachers.
The assistant commissioner Gajanan Bellale F/North on June 3, suspended six -teachers stating that despite the circular issued on May 19, under Epidemic Disease Act to resume on duty immediately they did not adhered to the orders. The copy of the letter issued by Bellale is available with TheNews21, the suspension letter states that on May 28 the education department of BMC had issued showcause notice to the teachers who failed in joining immediately after the order.
The Chairperson of Education Committee Anjali Naik said, “The assistant commissioner does not have power to suspend any teacher or official. The ward-wise decision on suspension is unilateral. The Education Officer is authorized to take the decision on suspension and even he was kept on dark about the entire proceedings.”
The letter states that teacher Gaurishankar Chopkar , Mithun Ambards Ramtakke, Kashinath Khade, Sunil Wankhede, Jitendra Damhe and Dinesh Waghare did not resume to their duties despite understanding the necessity to fight against coronavirus. The order says that for violation of Epidemic Diseases Act 1897 the six-teachers have been suspended immediately.
The BMC has approximately 10,345 teachers with them after outbreak of coronavirus 350 teachers were in mission to fight against coronavirus.The senior authority of BMC said, “After one and half month, 560 frontline warriors of BMC school teachers were asked to resume on duties. Later none of teachers were ready to join on duty in fearing the contagious disease coronavirus.The Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Chahal had thus issued a circular for resumption on duty to aall BMC staff on immediate basis. However the BMC teachers who are of 55 years age, having physical illness were exempted from this order .
Thus, ward-wise orders were issued to resume on duty and later the authorities sent showcause notices to those who failed to comply the resumption order.
When talked with Mahesh Palkar the Education Officer said, ” I have not issued any order of resuming on duty and not even informed by the assistant commissioner, Bellale on suspension, thus I can not reply on it.”
K P Naik the President of Shiv Sena led Mumbai BMC Teacher’s Union said, “Many teachers went to their native place amid lockdown. After order by MC Chahal they could not resume as were in different parts of district. They were not having access to mobile network also it is very illogical to suspend despite understanding the situation.”
Kapil Patil MLC from Thane Division Teacher’s constituency said, “It is not a right conduct by the assistant Commissioner to suspend without proper investigation. ”
