Bareilly: Employees of Bareilly College on Saturday sat on a dharna to oppose the principal’s decision to indefinitely close the institute. Members of the Teachers’ Association on Saturday met additional district magistrate (ADM) to express their objection, saying the decision is against the interest of students.Principal Ajay Sharma had written a letter to secretary of the college management committee, regional higher education officer and vice-chancellor of MJP Rohilkhand University on Thursday evening to inform them that he has decided to indefinitely close the institution till the issue of salary of Class III and IV contractual employees is resolved. A disappointed principal had alleged that a few employees had misbehaved with him on Tuesday and though he called “police for help, they arrived late”.As the college was already closed on Friday due to death of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the decision came into force on Saturday. Students were told to go home.The decision has drawn widespread criticism from teachers, employees and students. Employees under the aegis of Karamchari Kalayan Sewa Samiti sat on a dharna and claimed that they did not misbehave with the principal. “We are being targeted as we have lodged a complaint with the regional higher education officer about several irregularities and embezzlement of funds at the college. The college authorities have leveled fake allegations against us as an inquiry is underway against them following our complaint,” said Jitendra Mishra, president of the samiti.VP Singh, secretary, teachers’ association, said, “We met ADM, city, OP Verma to update him about the activities in the college. Many principals in the past had faced protests during their tenure but nobody closed the college indefinitely. A few probes against college are underway. If the principal is unable to handle things , he should resign instead of shutting the college which is affecting studies of thousands of students.”Dev Murti, secretary, management committee, said, “I have called a meeting on Sunday evening on this matter.”

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