Last week, State Education Minister, Rajesh Tope had warned the striking professors of stringent action if they failed to report to work.u00a0Earlier, the state had sent notices to all universities in the state after the high court asked the teachers’ union to table their reasons for the strike.

“Very few teachers have received notices. All the teachers in the city will continue to remain firm on their stand,” said S P Lawande, president, Pune University and College Teachers’ Organisation (PUCTO).

The PUCTO members claim that not a single professor has reported for assessment of papers and that the teachers’ unions across the state are determined to continue with the strike unless and until their demands are met with.

About 40,000 teachers from across the state have boycotted assessment of papers, demanding that the state government disburse their arrears after implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission at the earliest.

The agitators have also maintained that the University Grants Commission (UGC) had released an order, exempting teachers from National Eligibility Test (NET) and State Eligibility Test (SET), which the state is yet to implement.u00a0