Teachers can't be PAs to ministers: SC tells TS government

HYDERABAD:  Finding fault with the practice of appointing school teachers as private secretaries to ministers and MLAs on deputation, a division bench of the Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Telangana government to stop the practice.

“Take immediate steps to relieve the teachers working on deputation as personal secretaries and private assistants to the ministers, MPs and MLAs and post them to the schools concerned,” the bench ordered.

The bench reminded that providing basic amenities in schools and implementation of Right to Education Act are the responsibilities of state governments.

The bench comprising Justice Dipak Misra and Justice C Nagappan was dealing with a batch of petitions seeking directions to AP and Telangana governments to take steps for filling up of teachers’ vacancies in government schools.

During the course of hearing, Sravan Kumar, counsel for Telangana Parents Foundation, pointed out that many teachers in the state have been sent on deputation to work with MPs, MLAs and ministers. Senior counsel P Vishwanath Shetty, appearing for Telangana state contended that the said practice was stopped and the persons who were sent on deputation had been withdrawn.

Not satisfied with the state counsel’s explanation, the bench directed the Telangana state to take steps to ensure that the teachers, if deputed, are sent back immediately. The court also wanted the government to file an affidavit to that extent by the next date of hearing.

Further, Sravan Kumar submitted that 90 per cent posts in supervisory cadre have not been filled up and as a result the schools are not being supervised.

The bench then directed the Telangana state chief secretary to file an affidavit as to why so many posts remained vacant in the supervisory cadre and how long the state will take to fill the vacancies.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed Telangana to file an the affidavit detailing the progress made with respect to filling up of teachers posts in the state. The bench comprising Justice Dipak Misra and Justice C Nagappan was dealing with a batch of petitions seeking directions to AP and Telangana governments to take steps for filling up of teachers' vacancies in government schools.

On an earlier occasion, the bench had observed that providing basic amenities and implementation of Right to Education Act are the responsibilities of the state government. It directed the appointed committee to visit schools in Telangana state along with the counsel of Telangana Parents Federation and study the reasons for not registering admissions in government schools and also facilities available in schools. As per the court direction, the committee submitted a report explaining the reasons for 'zero enrolment' in certain schools of the state. The Telangana state also filed an affidavit explaining the steps taken by it for betterment of school education.

After perusing the affidavit, the bench said that it is necessary that the state shall file a scheme how to eradicate the problems that are crippling the system of education. The counsel appearing for the Telangana state urged the court to grant four months time to fill vacancies of teachers in government schools.

While adjourning the case, the bench asked the counsels appearing for AP and Telangana states to file affidavits through their respective Chief Secretaries detailing steps being taken to fill the vacancies and to provide basic amenities in schools. The bench posted the matter to Sept 7 for further hearing.

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