Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court has ordered a comprehensive, statewide verification of the educational certificates of basic education teachers in Uttar Pradesh. The strict directive comes amid alarming reports of large-scale fraudulent appointments, with preliminary investigations revealing that in several instances, more than ten individuals had secured teaching positions using the exact same set of educational documents.
The court has entrusted the monitoring of this massive scrutiny process to senior officials of the state education department and the Special Task Force (STF).
This sweeping order was passed by a single-judge bench of Justice Vinod Diwakar while hearing a petition filed by Kusumlata, a resident of Sant Kabir Nagar. The petitioner had approached the court seeking the official approval of her appointment and the release of her pending salary.
However, during the proceedings, an STF investigation report exposed that the petitioner had allegedly secured her job by misusing the educational credentials of another teacher currently employed in Gorakhpur. The court was also informed that despite being summoned for document verification, the petitioner failed to appear before the STF.
Taking a highly stern stance on the corruption within the recruitment process, the High Court directed the concerned authorities to submit a detailed compliance report by November 4. The court explicitly warned that it would consider cancelling all such fraudulent appointments and initiate the recovery of disbursed salaries in accordance with the law. Furthermore, the bench indicated that strict disciplinary and penal actions would be launched against any government officials found guilty of colluding in or ignoring these illegal appointments.
Emphasizing the foundational importance of primary education, the court observed that merely providing school buildings, textbooks, uniforms, and mid-day meals is insufficient for the state’s development. Highlighting the fundamental need for quality education, the bench stated that it is absolutely crucial to appoint qualified, disciplined, and responsible educators.
The court further noted that an ideal teacher must demonstrate regular attendance, patience, effective teaching abilities, and treat all students equally, completely irrespective of their caste, economic status, or social background.