HC upholds govt decisions on transfer of teachers
Sureshkumar.K@timesgroup.com
Chennai:23.05.2019
The Madras high court on Wednesday upheld the decision of the government to deploy its 7,913 surplus secondary grade teachers in the social welfare department for taking kindergarten classes in 2,381 Anganwadi centres across the state.
Dismissing a batch of pleas moved by the teachers challenging the order, a division bench of Justices N Kirubakaran and S S Sundar said the government is justified in its decision as the state is spending ₹447 crore annually towards salary of such surplus teachers.
“While taking care of the educational needs of poor sections of the society, the government is equally justified to consider the government exchequer as well. To avoid any further expenditure, the services of surplus teachers are being effectively sought to be utilised. Therefore, the government is justified in utilising the services of surplus teachers in public interest,” the bench said.
Noting that teachers are like gods and they cannot question each and every decision taken by the government in public interest, the court said, “It has become a fashion for government teachers who are paid handsome salary to rush to the court for each and every decision taken by the government. They should spend their knowledge and time only to educate for which they are being paid by the government from the tax-payers money instead of wasting their time in approaching the court.”
Pointing out the counter affidavit filed by the state submitting that so many teachers became surplus due to poor enrolment in government schools, the bench said, “There is no reason for poorer sections of society to admit their wards in private schools paying huge amounts as fees unless there is something seriously wrong with the government schools.”
Increase in admission in private schools should be due to the failure of the government as well as government teachers. Neither the government nor the government school teachers could escape from their responsibility for this situation, the court added.
The bench then said it would be open to the government to introduce a bridge course and give proper training to secondary grade teachers for six months and empower them to impart Montessori based education to Kindergarten students simultaneously while employing them as Montessori Teachers.
The teachers moved the plea on the primary ground that they are not qualified to impart education to kindergarten children and that their transfer would amount to degradation or reduction in status and service condition.
Sureshkumar.K@timesgroup.com
Chennai:23.05.2019
The Madras high court on Wednesday upheld the decision of the government to deploy its 7,913 surplus secondary grade teachers in the social welfare department for taking kindergarten classes in 2,381 Anganwadi centres across the state.
Dismissing a batch of pleas moved by the teachers challenging the order, a division bench of Justices N Kirubakaran and S S Sundar said the government is justified in its decision as the state is spending ₹447 crore annually towards salary of such surplus teachers.
“While taking care of the educational needs of poor sections of the society, the government is equally justified to consider the government exchequer as well. To avoid any further expenditure, the services of surplus teachers are being effectively sought to be utilised. Therefore, the government is justified in utilising the services of surplus teachers in public interest,” the bench said.
Noting that teachers are like gods and they cannot question each and every decision taken by the government in public interest, the court said, “It has become a fashion for government teachers who are paid handsome salary to rush to the court for each and every decision taken by the government. They should spend their knowledge and time only to educate for which they are being paid by the government from the tax-payers money instead of wasting their time in approaching the court.”
Pointing out the counter affidavit filed by the state submitting that so many teachers became surplus due to poor enrolment in government schools, the bench said, “There is no reason for poorer sections of society to admit their wards in private schools paying huge amounts as fees unless there is something seriously wrong with the government schools.”
Increase in admission in private schools should be due to the failure of the government as well as government teachers. Neither the government nor the government school teachers could escape from their responsibility for this situation, the court added.
The bench then said it would be open to the government to introduce a bridge course and give proper training to secondary grade teachers for six months and empower them to impart Montessori based education to Kindergarten students simultaneously while employing them as Montessori Teachers.
The teachers moved the plea on the primary ground that they are not qualified to impart education to kindergarten children and that their transfer would amount to degradation or reduction in status and service condition.
No comments:
Post a Comment