Bihar: MLCs seek service rule for contractual teachers

PATNA: Legislators, cutting across party lines, erupted in anger in the legislative council on Friday after education minister Krishna Nandan Prasad Verma blamed delay in framing of service rule for contractual teachers and librarians to failure of the committee formed in this regard to hold its meeting.“Service rule is very important, but it is unfortunate that the committee formed to frame the service rule has not met yet. I will find out the reason behind it,” Verma told the House after a call attention in this regard was brought by CPI MLCs Kedar Nath Pandey, Sanjay Kumar Singh, JD(U) MLCs Sanjeev Shyam Singh, Sanjeev Kumar Singh and Congress MLC Madan Mohan Jha.The MLCs had asked the government to explain delay in notification of service rule for contractual teachers and librarians with policy for continuation in their service, monetary increment, promotion to the post of principal and choice transfer.After Verma’s reply that a committee had been formed to frame service rule for contractual teachers, CPI MLC Pandey said, “You are giving the same reply from past three sessions. Please notify the service rule so that teachers start concentrating on teaching, rather than wasting their energy on protests.” BJP MLC Nawal Kishore Yadav sought to know whether the committee was superior or the House.Verma had earlier said that the department had formed a committee on August 11, 2015 with principal secretary or secretary level representatives from finance department, education department, general administration department, urban development and housing department and panchayati raj department.“The committee had recommended revised salary for contractual teachers and librarians on May 15, 2017. Subsequently, as per department’s resolution, their salary was increased 2.57 times of their basic pay. Accordingly, they were given revised financial benefit from April 1, 2017. As per the resolution taken on October 11, 2017, they were also given dearness allowance, medical allowance and house rent on the revised rates,” the minister said.