Even as the state government is focussed on providing equal status to differently abled people, a college in Sambhal not only harassed a handicapped teacher but also terminated his services for seeking justice from the High Court. After the matter was brought to the notice of Information Commissioner, Hafiz Usman, hr ordered a high-level probe.
Taking serious view of the act, Usman has asked Divisional Commissioner of Moradabad to freeze all the powers of the college committee and appoint a Rscontroller’ to manage its affairs. He has also asked to reinstate the services of the victimised teacher and forward him the benefits due to him.
Usman told The Pioneer that Shariq Umar, an assistant teacher at ZU Inter College at Sarayatrin of Sambhal complained that the principal-cum-manager, Shaheed Hussain used to misbehaved with him, used derogatory remarks and handed out unequal treatment to him. Umar had been given a permanent job in the college on compensatory ground after his father died in August 1997.
On May 29, 1999, Umar he met with an accident and lost one of his legs and became 70 percent handicapped. Since his rejoining, he was subjected to harassment and mental torture due to his disability by the Principal-cum-Mohisin Gaiyur and the managing committee. later in 2005, Umar went to Saudi Arabia for RsHaj’ after due permission from the management. But on his return he came to know that he was allowed ten days leave that too half his salary for the period was deducted. However, other teachers who went for Haj were sanctioned leave at full salary.
Umar pointed out that as per rules, he should have been given selection grade pay scale on completing of ten years of service. Even this was denied to him while other teachers were given the benefit on time. Repeated correspondence in this regard was ignored b y the management.
Fed up with the discrimination, his wife Huma Warsi approached the DM of Sambhal and on his intervention, the authorities sanctioned Umar selection grade.
But Umar's move seeking an RTI reply about giving him Sherwani Award based on his experience, riled t he management and he was suspended by the college on February 18 this year. After this, Umar approached the Information Commissioner for redressal of his problem.
On Usman's orders, the teacher's suspension was revoked on April 15, but once again he was suspended by the college manager on May 7. The complainant later approached the High Court for reprieve in this regard which directed for his reinstatement. Piqued at this, the college authorities terminated Umar's services on June 24 last.
After carefully examining the merits of the case, the Information Commissioner ordered that all employees irrespective of their handicap ne meted out equal treatment, the Commissioner of Moradabad should dissolve powers of manager / managing committee of the College, a controller be appointed for smooth functioning of the college. He also directed the Joint Director, Education in Moradabad, to take action against the erring officials and to appear before him with action taken report within a fortnight.