The Arya College Teachers’ Union (ACTU), which consists of over 40 teachers, has been holding incessant protests since November in order to meet their pending demands. They are asking for a 10 per cent contributed provident fund on total salary, benefits on retirement, gratuity and leave encashment.

The teaching and non-teaching staff too had staged a dharna a few days ago and had also boycotted the first day of annual athletic meet of the college.

The teachers complained that the management was acting indifferently on the issue while many other colleges having implemented the same set of demands.

However, according to the management, no decision can be taken on any of these issues as the matter is subjudice.

"The boycott of classes by teachers has become a norm here. It has started affecting our interest in studies as we too have become complacent. With annual examinations in the sight, it would be difficult to get passing marks," said Harinder, a student of the college.

"It feels sad that the studies are getting affected and we are deeply concerned about it, but the management is still not bothered," said R Sabharwal, president of ACTU.

Though the agitation in the college has been going on since November 2007, the union stepped up its fight by boycotting December House Test for three days.

Sabharwal said the indifferent attitude of management, which remained unmoved, forced them to follow one-period strike after the winter vacations in January.

After receiving no positive response from the authorities, the employees have increased the strike to two periods every day since then.

However, college principal Dr SM Sharma said teachers were pressing for the demands which cannot be implemented right away.

"It is the students who are at the receiving end but I have reasoned with the agitating teachers that the demands are pending in the court of law.

He added: "Similar demands are pending in different cases in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. So the court will decide on them and only then can we take any decision on the issue.