Chandigarh: The Punjab government has banned farewell parties held by staff on school premises for teachers and other employees on their retirement. The school education department issued a circular to all school heads on Thursday, directing them to ensure that no farewell parties are organised on school premises.

Chandigarh: The Punjab government has banned farewell parties held by staff on school premises for teachers and other employees on their retirement. The school education department issued a circular to all school heads on Thursday, directing them to ensure that no farewell parties are organised on school premises.

The secretary, school education, issued the instructions after it was noticed that farewell parties were being held by school staff and expensive gifts given to teachers on their retirement. “Money is pooled for such parties. Some employees have to make monetary contribution out of compulsion. And such events affect studies,” it said.

However, the Government Teachers Union (GTU) has opposed the directive of putting a blanket ban on retirement parties during the school time and demanded its immediate rollback. President, GTU Balwinder Singh Bhutto, senior vice-president Rajiv Handa and general secretary Jaswinder Singh Mamdot said it was unfortunate to ban the practice of farewell parties on superannuation.

They termed the directive as dictatorial and discriminatory because there was no restriction imposed on parties held for senior officers on their retirement.