AAP govt plea on guest teachers surprising: Delhi HC

Refusing to vacate the stay order, Justice A K Chawla said, “It is very surprising why the Delhi government is proceeding this way. It is very difficult.”

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday said its interim order restraining authorities from either appointing or promoting guest teachers will continue. The court was hearing a plea by Delhi government’s Department of Education (DoE) seeking vacation of the stay granted on September 27 on the process of appointing guest teachers and promoting those appointed since 2010 in the government schools.

Counsel for Delhi government said the stay order had resulted in serious prejudice to the students, who were suffering due to lack of sufficient number of teachers. He said that till the 9,000 newly created posts of teachers are filled up either through recruitment or regularisation, guest teachers are required as a stop-gap arrangement against the newly created posts, which is not possible now due to the stay order.

Refusing to vacate the stay order, Justice A K Chawla said, “It is very surprising why the Delhi government is proceeding this way. It is very difficult. They still wish to proceed in the manner they want to, no matter whether it is permissible in law. I am not getting the clear picture, things are very strange…” Seeking the response of NGO Social Jurist, represented by Advocate Ashok Agarwal, the judge listed the matter for further hearing on November 9. The judge also asked Agarwal to mention alternatives in case the court allowed the appointment of guest teachers.