The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday questioned the Uttar Pradesh government over the treatment of a teacher who has worked on a contractual basis for 16 years, saying a teacher seen as a “builder of the nation” cannot be “left to fend for herself” after such prolonged service.
The Lucknow bench said the case raised a larger issue involving contractual teachers who have served for more than 15 years. It directed the Uttar Pradesh government to file a personal affidavit from the additional chief secretary, basic education, stating whether any steps were being taken to regularise such teachers.
The court also ordered the authorities to allow the petitioner to continue on the post on a contractual basis till the next hearing. The matter came up on a petition filed by Archana Boodh, a teacher at a Kasturba Gandhi Residential Girls School in Amethi, whose contract was not renewed through an order dated June 16.
Boodh has been working since January 16, 2010, with her contract renewed from time to time. Her counsel told the court that after 16 years of service, instead of considering her regularisation, the authorities refused to renew her contract. The petitioner is now around 39 years old and, according to her counsel, would not be eligible to apply afresh for teaching posts in schools, affecting her livelihood.
The court noted from the instructions submitted by the authorities that three teachers had been transferred from different schools following disciplinary issues involving students. However, it recorded that there was no personal allegation against the petitioner.
Justice Pankaj Bhatia said the issue required consideration, particularly as the petitioner had been serving for 16 years and the decision to discontinue her contractual engagement could leave her without livelihood. The court directed the respondents to file their counter-affidavits and listed the matter on September 8 to consider the larger issue.
In sum, the high court has sought the state government’s response on the regularisation of teachers working on contract for over 15 years, while allowing the petitioner to continue in service till the next hearing.
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