Why senior lecturers are being ‘made to work’ under junior cadre in Haryana

Senior cadre Post Graduate Teachers (PGTs) of physical education are working under their own junior cadre, the Demonstrators in Physical Education (DPEs), who are working as Assistant Education Officers (AEOs) for the administration of sports at district headquarters. Despite being senior in rank and qualification, around 600 PGTs are reporting to DPEs in the majority of the districts.

n Why are PGTs not being appointed to the posts of AEOs in Sports?

Even though it was recommended by a high-level committee in 2020 and approved by the Chief Minister in January 2021, the department is yet to amend the policy framed in 2005 for appointing physical education PGTs as AEOs for sports. The department claims that certain ‘formalities’ are still pending.

What does the 2005 gazette notification say?

A 2005 government notification created posts of District Science Specialist, District Math Specialist, and Assistant Education Officer (Sports) in the offices of District Education Officers at district headquarters. At that time, lecturers (PGTs) were appointed to science and mathematics posts, while DPEs were temporarily assigned to AEO (Sports) posts because no PGT lecturers of physical education were present then.

What changed after 2014?

In 2014, the government recruited about 100 PGTs for physical education. As per the 2013 affidavit submitted to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the department was required to review the AEO (Sports) posts once PGTs were appointed. However, no decision was taken, due to which DPEs are looking after the posts.

What did the high-level committee recommend?

The issue was raised in the Haryana Assembly, after which a high-level committee was constituted under the Additional Chief Secretary of School Education in June 2020. It reviewed the issue and recommended that AEO (Sports) posts should be filled with PGTs (Physical Education). This recommendation was approved by the Chief Minister on January 31, 2021, and directions for implementation were issued on February 8, 2021, but remain unimplemented.

What has the High Court directed on this matter?

Several rounds of court cases have taken place. In 2013, the Education Department assured the high court it would review the AEO (Sports) posts once PGTs were appointed. When this was not done, PGTs approached the court again in 2023. The HC then directed the department to consider the pending legal notice by passing a speaking order in accordance with law, within a period of eight weeks from the date of receiving a certified copy of this order. The department sought some time for upgrading posts of AEOs from DPE/TGT to PGT. Before completing it, the department would have been unable to appoint PGTs on the post of AEO. The issue was again raised before the court, and now the HC directed the department to give an additional charge to PGTs for the post of AEOs till the final decision on the upgrading of the posts. The decision was challenged by the DPEs as they moved the court. On October 1, 2025, the Division Bench stayed the earlier direction and asked the department to file an affidavit on the amendment of the 2005 policy. The next hearing is scheduled for December 8, 2025.

How are senior teachers affected?

PGT (Physical Education) lecturers, who teach Classes IX to XII and belong to the District Education Office (Secondary), are currently reporting to DPEs, who handle Classes VI to VIII under the District Elementary Education Office. As per the PGTs, it violates the principle of seniority and cadre chain, forcing senior Class-II employees to report to junior Class-III employees.

What are the lecturers demanding?

The Lecturers of Physical Education Haryana Association has demanded that the Chief Minister’s approval and 2020 committee recommendation be implemented immediately. They have also appealed to Union Minister and former CM Manohar Lal Khattar to intervene and ensure compliance with the official directions issued in February 2021.