The UT government school teachers had yesterday announced their decision to suspend teaching work till their demands were fulfilled.

In a press statement today, the GTU said their decision followed an appeal by the Chandigarh Administration wherein "all teachers have been asked to resume work in the interest of students and community at large and avoid the path of agitation". The teachers have also been assured by the Administration that their demands will be considered, it was added.

The GTU has, in turn, appealed to the teachers to resume duties from tomorrow. The September examinations, slated to commence from tomorrow, will be held as scheduled. GTU convenor Harbir Singh Anand said that further action with regard to the agitation will be decided only after the examinations are over.

Education Secretary Anuradha Gupta, it is learnt, categorically told a teachers' delegation that their demand for revocation of the suspension orders of teachers was not justified and will not be agreed upon. The inquiry committee appointed by the Administration to probe into the alleged beating and humiliation of two students had held the teachers guilty of inflicting corporal punishment,which was violative of department instructions. Three teachers were then suspended, following which the school teachers began their agitation.

Gupta said that only when the teachers resume work and shun the agitational approach will the Administration consider their other demands. She has called upon the teachers to "behave responsibly and not try to disrupt studies".

The delegation of GTU leaders -- comprising Harbir Singh Anand, Khushali Ram Sharma, Dr Vinod Sharma, Surinder Kumar, Tarsem Lal Sharma, Vijay Kumar, Jagdish Kumar and Ram Dev Shastri -- which met Education Secretary Anuradha Gupta along with DPI (Schools) D S Mangat and District Education Officer Brahmjit Kalia claimed that she assured them a sympathetic consideration of their demands.

The leaders have also appealed to the Administration to confer state awards and commendation certificates to the teachers for this year. The Administration had earlier cancelled the state-level Teachers' Day function on September 5 in view of the boycott call by teachers.