HYDERABAD: The long-lasting demand of panchayat raj teachers in Telangana for uniform service rules under local cadre is unlikely to be met in the near future.
As the formulation of new service rules comes under Article 371D, the state government is unable to accede to the demand and officials of school education department are looking for options to resolve the issue.
Considering the request of PR teachers, the government is planning to prepare a detailed report on the available options. A meeting with higher officials of school education was held on Tuesday to discuss the matter. But no decision was taken at the meeting.
“Today’s was no different from previous meetings. We have discussed only the possible options to find a solution as soon as possible,” said Gopal Reddy, additional director of school education. As a case is pending with the Supreme Court, the state government is awaiting the judgment to act further.
PR teachers claim that they are losing an opportunity of promotions and regularisation because of being out of the local cadre. “When panchayat and government teachers perform the same duty under the same government, why should we have different service rules?” wondered P.Venkat Reddy, president of Progressive Recognised Teachers Union (PRTU).
“Government teachers comprise just 5 per cent of the total number teachers in the state and 95 per cent are PR teachers. Limiting the benefits to the smallest group is not fair,” said Reddy.
But government teachers are opposing the demand of PR teachers. “We will be deprived of promotions if uniform service rules are brought in,” said a government teacher from Hyderabad. “Moreover, the state government does not have the authority to frame new service rules. It must come by a presidential order,” he claimed.
Now the issue has gone beyond the ambit of the state government. The only way to bring in new service rules is to amend Article 371-D. But the state government does not have the authority to do so. All that the state can do is appeal to the President for an amendment citing valid reasons.