FTII row: decision to lay off contract staff deferred

The decision to give temporary lay-off to 82 contract staff of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune has been deferred by one month.

The temporary lay-off, which was to be implemented from September 1, would now be effective from October 1, if the strike is not called off by then.

In the official release issued by the institution it is mentioned that there was no justification for the booking of the staff since there were no activity happening including classes, projects or productions and the lay-offs were happening purely because all activity at the institute was suspended due to the continuing strike.

However, in view of the extraordinary situation that developed and a student going on hunger strike, events had to be intervened.

After consultation with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, it was also decided that the contract staff issue would be placed for a final decision before the Governing Council.

The students who have been protesting since three months against the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as chairperson of the institute and four others as governing council members, stood by all 82 contractual employees, calling their laying-off "victimisation".

The students' body had earlier sent a letter to the ministry seeking intervention in the layingoff of the contractual employees.