Bihar Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has taken action against Additional Chief Secretary of Education, K.K. Pathak, following concerns over his "harsh decisions" regarding the functioning of schools and universities. In a letter from Principal Secretary to the Governor Robert L. Chongthu to Chief Secretary Amir Subhani, it was stated that Pathak's decisions were adversely affecting the educational structure of the state.
The Governor's action was prompted by a delegation of 15 MLCs from various parties in Bihar who met him on December 19. The delegation submitted a memorandum accusing Pathak of making decisions that were detrimental to the educational system. They urged the Governor to promptly remove Pathak from the position of Additional Chief Secretary, Education.
According to the complaint, Pathak had issued directives for school teachers to be present from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on working days, a measure considered unusual and not implemented elsewhere in the country. Additionally, he mandated college teaching faculties to conduct five classes daily, a practical impossibility, according to the delegation.
The MLCs also claimed that Pathak was violating their special privilege under Article 194 of the Constitution. Among the complainants were MLC and retired professor Sanjay Kumar Singh of CPI, whose pension was allegedly stopped, as well as members from various political parties such as JD-U, Congress, RJD, BJP, Jan Suraj, and an Independent member.
In response, the Governor, after reviewing the claims of the MLCs, instructed the Chief Secretary to cancel the decisions that were deemed harsh and in violation of the laws. The action reflects the concerns raised by the delegation regarding the impact of Pathak's decisions on the educational landscape of Bihar.
(With Agency Inputs)
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