Erode: Only CM can take call on FIRs against striking teachers, says minister

Erode: The State School Education minister K A Sengottaiyan on Sunday said it was up to the Chief Minister to take a call on withdrawing the police FIRs’ against teachers who took part in the recent Jaccto-Geo agitation to press their charter of demands.

While suspension orders served on the government teachers who struck work had been rescinded, what about the Damocles sword of ‘police cases’ registered hanging over them, posed newsmen to the minister who had come to participate in a function at the taluk office in Gobichettipalayam near here, where he distributed over 250 smart PDS cards to ration card holders.

Replying to this question, Mr. Sengottaiyan said, “we have to wait and see; only the Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami can take a call on dropping the disciplinary proceedings against the teachers who struck work during the Jaccto-Geo agitation. As the Home portfolio is held by the Chief Minister he has to decide on it and direct us accordingly.”

Mr. Sengottaiyan said after the state board Plus-2 exams were over, 15.40 lakh boys and girls of government schools across Tamil Nadu will be given laptop computers, while 13.50 lakh students of classes eight, nine and ten will get smart mini-computers.