HYDERABAD, Dec 20: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim on Wednesday reiterated his vow to challenge Sindh High Court’s verdict on ban on teachers' unions in Supreme Court and warned that the government would exercise its administrative authority if teachers tried to blackmail the education department by not attending classes.

"Yes, we will certainly challenge SHC’s decision in Supreme Court. We have administrative authority. If teachers did not attend schools or tried to blackmail the staff then we will deal with them administratively," he warned.

Responding to reporters’ queries after attending the 45th parents' day at Cadet College Petaro he defended his decision to ban teachers' unions on grounds it would ensure quality education. Only lawyers could comment on the legal aspects of SHC’s decision reversing the ban, he said. The chief minister rejected the claim of the villagers of Safar Khaskheli Goth that their village had existed before the establishment of cadet college and denied the existence of any village before the establishment of college. "I have studied in the same institution and I did not see any village across the road. People have in fact occupied the government land and claim it is theirs," he remarked.

It was he who formally mutated the land in the college’s name on revenue records, he said, adding "College is more important than an individual or village. If land is required for a village it can be given but the existing land is not a personal property of college principal because he won’t take it away with him after retirement," he said.

He praised the CCP principal, petty officers and other staff who suffered injuries in a clash with villagers on November 9 and warned "whether it is a Malik or a Chaudhry I will not let anyone work against the institution."

Dr Rahim said that the government supported the college because it was imparting quality education. The government had approved Rs2.5 million for scholarships and raised Rs0.5 million grant to Rs1 million for the college, he said.

He called for creation of an endowment fund in the college to enable the middle class people to get their children admitted to the college who could otherwise not afford it.

"I have asked the chairman of the college’s board of governors to revise fee structure downwards to help poor students," he said while showering praise on the college’s focus on polishing the students’ etiquettes.

He congratulated cadets Khadim Hussain and Mohammad Ziaul Haq for securing two top positions in intermediate examinations and Zafar Leghari for winning the award of best teacher.

Our bureau adds: The chief minister announced that the government would provide gas, overhead water tank, building for union council office, upgrade dispensary and construct streets in the Umer Samoon village near Cadet College Petaro.

He told a reception hosted in his honour by UC Petaro Nazim Mohammad Ali Samoon that he had visited the area several times and was well aware of its problems.