9 teachers of Women’s College resigns from ACTA; alleges 2 leaders of Cachar Zone ‘endorsed allegations of retd Principal’

way2barak, Dec.8: A total of nine teacher members of Women’s College Unit of Assam College Teacher’s Association (ACTA) has resigned. Issuing a letter to this effect, Santanu Das, Assistant Professor of Women’s College, Silchar informed media that the teachers have tendered their resignation as they were hurt by some comments made by two of the leaders of ACTA Cachar Zone.

The letter stated, “Two of the prominent members/ leaders of ACTA, Zonal Committee, Cachar Zone have endorsed some allegations of retired Principal (Women’s College), Dr. Manoj Kumar Paul against various stakeholders of our college in a meeting which have eventually tarnished the image and prestige of our college mentioned above, a premier educational institution of Barak Valley.”

In the resignation letter issued on 3 November, 2022, it was further stated. “It may please be noted here that we had been the worst sufferers during Dr. Manoj Kumar Paul’s tenure so far the matter of promotion as well as other service and career related matters such as not granting permission for participating in OC/RC, delaying official procedure regarding the pension matters of retired teachers etc., are concerned but no member from ACTA, Cachar Zone mentioned a word regarding our victimization or empathized us and hence we have decided to tender our resignation from this Association (ACTA) with immediate effect.”

As per reports, Dr Manoj Kumar Paul, retired Principal of Women’s College convened a meeting of the civil society wherein he narrated the ordeal he had faced in Women’s College, the ‘chakrabihu’ inside which hard attempts were made to entangle him. He also upholded how foul means were adopted by a Governing President to cause immense harm to him by misusing his office of power. He said, “Defying the report of government investigating agency, a particular person has been trying to cause immense harm to him for long years, which was unbecoming of any normal gentleman.”

Those teachers who tendered resignation also alleged that 2 leaders of ACTA instead of supporting them endorsed the allegations raised by Dr Paul. It is in this backdrop that the teachers tendered their resignation. When asked, Secretary of ACTA Cachar Zone, Hemanta Borah said, “Yes, I have also received their resignation letter where they stated that 10 teachers have resigned. But actually, the number is not 10 but 09, as one of their teacher already tendered her resignation in March 2022. This was stated by Women’s College in their resignation letter. However, what I feel is that ACTA is not the individual property of any one or two persons. If somebody has said something in his/ her personal capacity, then ofcourse this could have been raised in the higher forum of the association. But instead tendering resignation is indeed an unfortunate incident.”