Absence of teachers negates purpose of RTE Act: Allahabad HC

The Allahabad High Court has observed that the absence of teachers from schools frustrates the very purpose of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, and declined to interfere with the suspension of primary school teachers who were found absent during an inspection.The court also directed the Uttar Pradesh government to frame a policy within three months to ensure the presence of teachers in schools.Justice Prakash Padia made the observations while disposing of writ petitions filed by Indra Devi and Leena Singh Chauhan, both government primary school teachers who had challenged the suspension orders issued by the District Basic Education Officer. 
The teachers were suspended after they were not found present at their respective institutions during an official inspection.Refusing to interfere with the suspension orders, the court, in its order dated December 2, underscored the pivotal role of teachers in society. Justice Padia observed that teachers are the “pillars of knowledge” and are revered as ‘Guru’ in Indian culture. He further noted that the state government has a constitutional and statutory obligation to ensure the imparting of uninterrupted education to children.“It is a well-known fact that in a large number of primary institutions throughout the State of U.P., teachers are not attending the institution on time,” the court observed. It added that matters are coming before the court on a daily basis where allegations are levelled against teachers and headmasters of primary institutions for not attending schools within the stipulated time.