SC slams Gujarat's vidya sahayak scheme

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posted on 11 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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The court also asked the government to explain why vidya sahayaks were being paid just Rs 2,500.

Gujarat: The Supreme Court on Monday severely criticised the Gujarat government of Chief Minister Narendra Modi over its Vidya Sahayak scheme. The court came down heavily on the Modi government on the recruitment process of vidya sahayaks in government primary schools.

In a stinging criticism a bench of justices BS Chauhan and Dipak Misra asked the Gujarat government to explain why full time teachers were not being recruited even after the Right to Education Act. Calling vidya sahayak as Shikha shatrus (enemies of education), the court asked the Modi government to reply by Wednesday. The court also asked the government to explain why vidya sahayaks were being paid just Rs 2,500.

"A populist principality cannot spoil the future of the country. We want to know qualification of teachers," the bench said while hearing Gujarat government's plea on a case pertaining to appointment of Vidya Sahayaks in primary schools in the state. "How do you bring such policies when there is Article 21A? It is shocking. There are such appointments in UP also. These Shiksha Sahayaks (helpers) are Shiksha 'shatrus' (enemies)," the bench observed asking the state government to place details relating to qualification and appointment of such teachers

The Guajrat teachers union had moved the Gujarat High Court over the vidya sahayak scheme. The High Court, too, had criticised the state government and directed the state government to pay teacher's pay scale to vidya sahayaks. The Modi government had challenged the High Court verdict in the Supreme Court.

The bench noted that ad-hoc appointment of primary teachers are done in many states which provide them less than one-forth salary given to regular teachers. "Once we have implemented Article 21A, can we allow such system? Our concern is quality of education and we are very serious about the kind of education we are imparting," it said adding, "We spoil the entire education system by appointing ad-hoc teachers who do not have proper qualification."

(With additional information from PTI)