Hyderabad: The Telangana government has decided to abolish the counselling system for transfer of teachers working in government schools across the state.
The proposed decision of the government was placed before the Hyderabad High Court on Thursday by advocate general K. Ramakrishna Reddy before a division Bench comprising acting Chief Justice Dilip B. Bhosale and Justice S.V. Bhatt.
The Bench had asked him to appear before it in a taken-up case with regard to hundreds of students of government schools in rural areas of Mahbubnagar district that didn’t have teachers.
Mr Ramakrishna Reddy said that the government had been facing severe constraints in posting teachers in rural schools because the counselling system.
As per the counselling system, the teachers give their options for transfer based on which the government gives them postings after giving weightage to their length of service in rural areas and also their performance.
He submitted that the government had already started the process of rationalisation of teachers and also rationalisation of students. After completing both processes, the government would accommodate teachers in all the rural schools by transferring them as per its discretion.
He urged the court to grant time to the government to complete the process. The Bench said: “We are not concerned with that; their endeavor is to ensure that teachers are available for students in the rural areas.”
Apathy towards schools irk High Court
Expressing anguish at the apathy of authorities in leaving hundreds of elementary students to their fate without providing teachers, the Hyderabad High Court on Thursday observed that the time has come to pass an order on the lines of Allahabad High Court which had ordered Uttar Pradesh chief secretary to ensure that government officials, those serving in the local bodies, representatives of people and judiciary, send their children only to government schools.
A division bench comprising acting Chief Justice Dilip B Bhosale and Justice S.V. Bhatt was dealing with a taken-up case based on post cards send by more than 600 students from Kesavaram, Chintala Kunta, Mittadoddi, Yellamdoddi, Chagadona, Arigadda and Boyalagudem villages of Mahbubnagar informing the court that they are deprived of teachers.
While hearing the case, the bench was not satisfied with the submission made by counsel for government with regard to students and teachers ratio in schools of the district and asked the advocate-general to appear before it by 2.15 pm.
When K. Ramakrishna Reddy, advocate-general placed statistics of students and teachers ration, the bench pointed out, “How can one teacher be sufficient for 500 students? It is a shame on the part of authorities.”
The bench questioned the AG on whose instructions he was making submissions before it?
When the AG replied that the commissioner of school education is present in the court to assist him in the matter, the bench asked if the officer is prepared to send his children to government schools? They send their children to the convents leaving the students in rural areas at their plight without providing the teachers.”
While saying that things will be set right only when a senior officer to be placed under suspension, the bench directed to file an affidavit explaining the number of government schools, students and teachers available for them and vacancies by August 30.
Private schools agree on RTE
The Hyderabad High Court on Thursday directed the managements of association of private schools in Hyderabad to come out with a positive statement assuring the court that they will provide 25 per cent free seats to children from weaker sections and disadvantaged groups as per the Right of Children to free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.
A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Dilip B. Bhosale and Justice S.V. Bhatt was dealing with a PIL by Confederation of Voluntary Association, an NGO, and two others of the city, seeking to direct the Telangana State government to ensure that the unaided non-minority schools implement the Act and provide 25 per cent seats to poor children. Counsel appearing for the government told the HC that every school had parents committee and they are taking care of implementation of the Act.
The bench said constituting parents committee may not serve the purpose; it is the responsibility of the state to ensure free seats to be given to the needy and at least a responsible officer must be placed at every mandal to oversee the implementation of the Act. Counsel appearing for private school managements said that their clients are prepared to provide 25 per cent seats to poor students and the managements are worried about fee reimbursement from the state.
Shakeel, counsel for the petitioner, told the bench that as many as 14 students of old city were refused admissions by private managements. The bench said, “It is for the private schools to first admit the students as per the Act and then they can think about fee reimbursement.”
While adjourning the case for two weeks, the bench told TS counsel to inform the court about what kind of machinery it will put in place for the implementation of the Act.
