Education Dept halts action against 30 school headmasters

In a major relief for Elementary School Headmasters (ESHMs), the Directorate of Elementary Education has withdrawn the show-cause notices issued to 30 headmasters over their possible reversion to feeder posts.

The notices, served on July 28, had directed the headmasters to submit replies within 15 days. However, a recent communiqué from the Assistant Director has instructed District Elementary Education Officers (DEEOs) of 12 districts — Karnal, Ambala, Kaithal, Mahendragarh, Rewari, Sonepat, Panipat, Rohtak, Kurukshetra, Nuh (Mewat), Gurugram and Jhajjar — not to proceed with the matter until further orders.

“The department has reviewed the matter and decided to withdraw the earlier action,” the communiqué stated.

Sources said Sanskrit teachers serving in government schools were promoted as ESHMs between 2013 and 2019 on the basis of their date of appointment, as no seniority list was available at that time. The promotions were made through orders issued in 2013, 2016, 2017 and 2019, also factoring in various court rulings.

A seniority list of C&V Sanskrit teachers was later prepared on January 15, 2019. During its review, the department found that several senior eligible teachers had been left out while some juniors were promoted in violation of the seniority-cum-merit principle. To address this irregularity and pending contempt petitions, the department had issued show-cause notices on July 28 asking why the promoted teachers should not be reverted to their feeder posts.

Rohtak DEEO Diljeet Singh confirmed the latest development, saying, “The decision to withdraw the show-cause notices till further orders has been conveyed. One of the ESHMs affected by the order belongs to Rohtak.”