Punjab: Candidates seek CM’s help over cancelled recruitment of 1,158 professors, librarians

NEW DELHI: A group of disgruntled candidates have requested Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann to file a Letter Patent Appeal (LPA) in the high court as selection of 1,158 professors and librarian posts were cancelled. The Punjab and Haryana high court on August 8 quashed the selection of 1,158 assistant professors in Punjab.

Requesting the state government to take immediate action, the teachers group on Twitter said, “Large number of recruitments haven't been completed in schools and colleges of Punjab due to pending litigation in the courts. At the receiving end are Punjab's meritorious youth and students.” #Justice_For_1158 trends on Twitter.

The Punjab professors and librarian recruitment process began in October 2021 ahead of the Punjab assembly elections. Alleging that the Punjab government has “failed” to keep its promise, the aspirants on social media said, “Before election you had said that health and education is our priority but after election our recruitment was canceled and not properly lobbied in court please save our 1158 recruitment by filing an LPA.”

A Twitter handle namely the 1158 assistant professor and librarian front, Punjab, claimed, “Our 483 joined colleagues have resigned from their previous govt, aided private jobs are on the rolls of the govt.Their right to employment still remains unfulfilled as they are yet to get any salary.”

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The high court had earlier restrained the state government from going ahead with recruitment process due to the allegations that the criterion was “wholly arbitrary and discriminatory” and granted weightage in lieu of work experience only to the guest faculty, part-time workers and contract teachers working in colleges.

There were also reports on question paper leak before the Punjab recruitment exams which were held last year.

Our 483 joined colleagues have resigned frm their previous govt,aided private jobs & are on the rolls of the govt.Their right to employment still remains unfulfilled as they are yet to get any salary.Travesty of Justice. #Justice_For_1158 #Agitating_Dec_2021 #GujaratAssemblyPolls pic.twitter.com/Gp32Nt1PjC

— 1158AssistantProfessorAndLibrarianFront:Punjab (@1158APFront5aab) December 3, 2022