Dr G S Saroa, who was appointed president of PAUTA by general secretary Mukesh Siag and his group after the resignation of Dr M S Mahal nearly two months ago, has decided against contesting the March 25 elections. Fresh elections were announced after the house was dissolved last week.

Dr Saroa had made a statement to this effect at the General House meeting of PAUTA held last week. Dr Saroa said, “I have made this commitment to the general house and will stand by it.” When asked whether the rest of his team too agree to him, Dr Saroa said, “I am the president of the team and my team stands by me on the issue.” Commenting on the proceedings of the general house meeting, which was a stormy one, Dr Saroa using some harsh words remarked, “The members of my team did not start all that. I quit because I did not want to be the president of these kind of people. I want to be the president of teachers.”

Meanwhile, another issue which is coming to the fore is whether the new house will be valid for five months only. The team elected during these elections will head PAUTA only till October 2009 which is the remaining period of the PAUTA executive that was dissolved last week. Dr R S Dhillon, returning officer, said, “The PAUTA constitution is silent on the issue whether the elections are held for a full term or remaining period. So for now I have announced the elections just for the remaining period. Rest is in the hands of the general house which is supreme. If the general house wants, they can extend the term or they can opt for a group of senior teachers who can run PAUTA till October and elections be held at that time only. They are free to take the call.”