The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : HC upholds scheme to rehabilitate teachers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 03, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

HC upholds scheme to rehabilitate teachers

Staff Reporter

`1,700 primary school teachers in surplus'

BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court has upheld the validity of a scheme drawn up by the State Government to rehabilitate primary school teachers who have been appointed in excess of the requirement.

Teachers and the Karnataka State Aided Primary School Teachers' Association challenged the validity of the Karnataka Education Institution (Terms and Conditions of Services of Employees in Private Education Institutions) Rules, 1999.

Under the scheme, primary school teachers, who were identified as being in excess of the requirement, were deputed to government institutions against leave reserve vacancy or on part-time basis. The Government fixed February 15, 2005 as the cut-off date for implementing the scheme.

Defending the scheme, the Government said that as of now, 1,700 primary school teachers are in excess of the requirement. Of them, 1,344 have been deputed to work in the offices of block education officers (BDOs).

The petitioners said they are not challenging the order and circular of the Government notifying the scheme, but only those portions which limits the benefit only for two years and the cut-off date of February 15, 2005.

They said there are 2,571 primary aided schools in the State with a staff strength of more than 18,000. A majority of these teachers have put in 20 years or more of service, and some of these teachers are found to be in excess of the requirement. They said such teachers can be deputed to more than 30,000 government schools. Every year, 3,000 to 4,000 teachers retire and these teachers can be posted in their place. There are 10,000 vacancies of posts of primary school teachers in the State, they added.

Disposing of the petition, Justice D. V. Shylendra Kumar upheld the validity of the scheme and said it is beneficial to teachers.

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