Supreme Court Criticizes Absorption of Unqualified Teachers in Assam
NEW DELHI: On Tuesday, the Supreme Court expressed strong disapproval of a law from Assam’s Congress era that allowed many teachers from private and charitable schools to be hired by the government. The court emphasized that no individual should be appointed as a teacher in schools or colleges unless they meet the necessary educational qualifications.
In the case presented, senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, representing petitioner Rajesh Chauhan, argued that many teachers who were working temporarily in private institutions were being absorbed into government positions without having the required qualifications. He pointed out that a High Court order suggested that unqualified teachers could receive salaries equal to those of qualified government teachers.
Justice Bagchi questioned whether this High Court ruling had been appealed. Kumar responded, highlighting that the quality of education in the state is suffering due to these practices. The Supreme Court then issued a notice to both the state government and the Central government, insisting that no teacher may be appointed unless they meet the qualifications specified in the RTE (Right to Education) Act, the NCTE (National Council for Teacher Education) Act, and the UGC (University Grants Commission) Act.
The Chief Justice remarked, “The future of our students will be jeopardized if such appointments continue.” The ruling underscores the importance of maintaining quality education by ensuring that only qualified teachers are allowed in the classroom.
