Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Apr 29: The evaluation work of SSLC examination answer sheets in the state concluded on April 21. Accordingly, remuneration by way of cheques dated April 21 were issued to these teachers. On being presented through their banks, these cheques were returned, it is gathered. These teachers, who already have grouse about the low rate of remuneration, have now been penalized by way of having to foot cheque returning charges of Rs 150 each.

In Dakshina Kannada district, scores of such cheques were returned, including a chque issued to Uday Kumar Rai, teacher of Balila high school in Sulia taluk on Corporation Bank for Rs 1,860.

The teachers say that they are obliged to attend evaluation work on being instructed to do so, and it will be treated as a breaking of service rules if they object to this work. At the time, the department does not take enough care to ensure that cheques are honoured upon presentation through bank clearing mechanism, they point out.

Nodal officer in the district, Sadananda Poonja, who had distributed these cheques on behalf of the department, reasons that cheques would have been returned unpaid for technical reasons. It is gathered that many teachers have decided to wait for sometime and then present the cheques they have received towards remuneration for answer sheets evaluation work, in view of the above development.