Members of the Association of University Teachers (AUT) observed a fast here on Saturday to urge the government to shed its apathy towards teachers, and press their charter of demands.
Their demands included reinstatement of the two terminated teachers of TUK College, Thanjavur; withdrawal of all the victimisation of teachers of Erode Arts College, Erode; statutory status of re-employment of teachers till the end of the academic year; closure of aided courses by the managements; and annulment of all the unilateral disciplinary action of managements against teachers.
They also demanded that the government issue a G.O. ensuring security of service to all serving teachers and withdrawal of the permission accorded to unrelated institutions on the premises of aided colleges.
S. R. Bheeter, president of the AUT Tiruchi zone, led the fast which was inaugurated by K. Pandiyan, state president, AUT.
N. P. M. Sathik, zonal secretary of the AUT, and teachers from nine aided colleges participated in the fast.
In a statement issued here on Saturday, Mr. Sathik appealed to Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to take steps to end the plight of teachers of aided colleges and the litigations pending at the High Courts so as to activate the functioning of higher education effectively.
