A Supreme Court lawyer has challenged the legality of the ongoing strike enforced by teachers of the public universities across the country demanding removal of “discrimination in the salaries”.

In the petition, Eunus Ali Akond prayed to the High Court to direct the government to take steps for withdrawing the strike.

The SC lawyer also prayed to the HC to direct the teachers to attend their classes in 24 hours.

Education is a fundamental right for the students which is being violated due to the teachers’ strike, Eunus told The Daily Star citing the petition.

Eunus said, “The teachers can move to the court if there is any discrimination in their salary and dignity but they cannot enforce strike boycotting the classes and hampering the education of the students”.

The court is likely to hear the petition tomorrow, he said.

The teachers of all the 37 universities have been protesting the eighth pay scale since May, saying it downgraded their status. Since then, they have been pressing for a four-point charter of demands including formation of a commission to initiate an independent pay scale for public university teachers.