Srinagar 02 June (KNS): Dozens of aggrieved teachers who's salary has been withheld by the education department held asilent protest under the banner of JK Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC)at press club srinagar today.

Protest was led my President EJAC and Chairman JK Teachers form Mohd Rafique and Sr vice president Shabir Ahmad Langoo. 

Protesting teachers displayed play cards in their hand with the slogans " We demand impartial enquiry in kulgam suicide incident, release our salary, dont force our children to comment suicide".

On the occassion President EJAC Mohd Rafique Rather briefed the press. He said that kulgam suicide incident of a 24 year old youth, son of a teacher who has not been paid his due salary for last 28 months, is blot on our system and added that it has shaken the conscience of people across Union territory of jammu and kashmir. 

Rather said that kulgam incident is a result of official apathy, red tapesm and highhandedness of some people sitting in chairs and expressed surprise that there is no official order or communication for keeping the salary of these teachers withheld. He displayed an order from administrative office with clear cut instructions to the department to release the due salary of all those teachers who have not been paid their earned salary for more then two years and added that there is no valid reason to stop their salary on the pretext that there is adverse report against aggrieved teaches.

Rather on the occassion showed non involvement certificate issued by District level Committees ( DLC,s) constituted by the government for the purpose and also displayed clearance certificates issued by police in favour of such teachers from time to time. He said that salary of some 149 odd teachers has been kept withheld on the pretext of adverse report which is not correct.

Rather urged upon the gvernment to constitute a committee to hold impartial enquiry in to the circumstances which led to the extreme step of suicide of a youth, and added that responsibility should be fixed and those foung guility should be punished under law.

He also demanded urgent release of salary of all those teachers who have not been paid their due salary and issuance of tranisition orders in favour of left out teachers. 

He said that if salary of such teachers is not paid with 7 days a strong protest demonstration will be held which will be attended by thousands of employees and the responsibility will lie on the shoulders of people at helm.(KNS)