The court has ordered that the exercise be completed within six months. Teachers found to have secured their jobs through fake or fabricated certificates will face termination of service, recovery of salaries paid, and further legal action. The court also made it clear that officials who enabled or ignored such illegal appointments will be held equally accountable.
Allahabad High Court cracks down on fake teacher appointments
Prayagraj: Taking a tough stand against fraudulent appointments in the education sector, the Allahabad High Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to conduct a comprehensive, time-bound investigation into the appointment of assistant teachers allegedly recruited using forged documents.
The court has ordered that the exercise be completed within six months. Teachers found to have secured their jobs through fake or fabricated certificates will face termination of service, recovery of salaries paid, and further legal action. The court also made it clear that officials who enabled or ignored such illegal appointments will be held equally accountable.
Principal Secretary to Lead Investigation
The directive was issued by a single-judge bench of Justice Manju Rani Chauhan, which assigned the responsibility of the statewide probe to the Principal Secretary, Basic Education. The court emphasized that accountability must extend beyond the beneficiaries of fraud to include officials who colluded or failed to act despite being aware of irregularities.
“An Assault on the Education System”
Making strong observations, the High Court said that administrative negligence in such cases does not merely promote fraud but strikes at the very foundation of the education system. The bench underlined that students are the worst affected by such illegal appointments, adding that protecting their interests is of paramount importance.
Case Originated From Garima Singh Petition
The ruling came while hearing a writ petition filed by Garima Singh, who was appointed as an assistant teacher in Deoria district in 2010. Her appointment was later cancelled by the District Basic Education Officer (BSA) after it was found that her educational and domicile certificates were not genuine.
Court Rejects Claim of Long Service
The petitioner argued that she had served for nearly 15 years without any complaints and claimed her documents had been verified at the time of appointment. She also alleged that her services were terminated without giving her a fair opportunity to be heard.
However, the state government informed the court that a notice had been issued to her, to which she failed to respond or submit proof validating her credentials. The government further argued that appointments secured through fraud do not entitle the individual to procedural safeguards such as a departmental inquiry.
Petition Dismissed, Wider Action Ordered
Agreeing with the state’s position, the High Court dismissed the petition, stating that no judicial interference was warranted. At the same time, recognizing the broader implications of the issue, the court ordered a statewide investigation to identify similar cases across Uttar Pradesh.
Officials Involved Will Face Action
The court noted that in several instances, teachers continue in service for years due to active collusion or silent consent of institutional management and government officials. It directed the state to initiate strict disciplinary and punitive action against all such officials, ensuring that no one involved escapes accountability.
