The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday questioned the Uttar Pradesh government's treatment of a teacher who has served for 16 years on a contractual basis, observing that a teacher regarded as a "builder of the nation" cannot be left to fend for herself after such prolonged service.
Hearing the matter, the Lucknow bench of the high court said the matter raised a larger issue concerning contractual teachers who have served for more than 15 years.
Justice Pankaj Bhatia directed the Uttar Pradesh government to file a personal affidavit of the additional chief secretary, basic education, explaining whether any steps were being taken to regularise teachers working on a contractual basis for over 15 years.
The bench also ordered the authorities to allow the petitioner to continue working on the post on a contractual basis till the next hearing.
The court was hearing a petition filed by a teacher, Archana Boodh, working at a Kasturba Gandhi Residential Girls School in Amethi, whose contract was not renewed through an order dated June 16.
She had been working since January 16, 2010, with her contract being renewed periodically.
The petitioner argued that after serving the institution for 16 years, instead of considering her regularisation, the authorities had refused to renew her contract. She was now around 39 years old and, according to her counsel, would not be eligible to apply afresh for teaching posts in schools, thereby affecting her livelihood.
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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, there was no personal allegation against the petitioner.
Justice Bhatia said the issue required consideration, particularly when 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.