HC dismisses guest teachers’ appeal against removal

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 28

No less than 4,073 guest teachers in Haryana will have to go after a Division bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today dismissed their appeal against a single Bench’s orders on their removal.

Justice Amit Rawal of the High Court has already dismissed their petitions against the show-cause notices issued to them by the state government. They were served with show-cause notices for termination of their services on Friday. Dismissing their pleas, Justice Rawal had observed that the petitioners were wasting their time as the High Court and the apex court had already clarified the position against their continuance

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 state 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 and Hindi teachers were surplus, compared to the students’ strength in government schools. As such, the department on March 11 sent a proposal to the state government to dispense with the services of 4,073 guest teachers of these subjects.

The matter was brought to 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 on the ground of being in violation of departmental instructions and policies.

His counsel had added that regular selections had not been made. Taking up the matter, the High Court had initially ordered the maintenance of status quo regarding his services.