HC reserves orders on fate of 4,073 guest teachers

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 3

Justice Amit Rawal of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today reserved orders on a petition seeking review of the earlier orders on relieving guest teachers from service.

The development is significant as no less than 4,073 guest teachers were earlier shown the door.

Appearing on their behalf, senior advocate SK Garg Narwana told the court that a true picture on the sanctioned strength was not presented before the Bench. It was given the impression that the guest teachers were surplus vis-à-vis the sanctioned strength. But the sanctioned strength was much more that the figure presented in the court.

On a previous date of hearing, the High Court had asked the state government to relieve the guest teachers before May 11.

The order came after the Haryana Education Department told the High Court that it would relieve 4,073 guest teachers working in government schools across the state.

Information to this effect was furnished before the High Court by the Education Department through an affidavit in response to a petition filed against the continuation of guest faculty in government schools of Haryana.

In its affidavit, the department claimed that TGTs of mathematics, social studies subjects and Hindi were surplus, compared to the students’ strength in government schools. As such, the department on March 11 sent a proposal to the government to dispense with the services of 4,073 guest teachers of these subjects.

The matter was brought to the High Court’s notice by Virender Singh. Working as a guest lecturer, he had approached the High Court against the communication dated January 7 vide which his services were sought to be terminated for being in violation of departmental instructions and policies.