In a writ petition filed before the Allahabad High Court seeking a direction upon the District Basic Education Officer, Sant Kabir Nagar (respondent 3) to accord approval to the petitioner’s appointment to the post of Assistant Teacher for release of her salary, a Single Judge Bench of Justice Vinod Diwakar directed teachers of classes I to VIII to submit their appointment letters and degrees to Basic Shiksha Adhikaris and face STF scrutiny.
The petitioner contended that she was selected to the post of Assistant Teacher and had been regularly discharging her duties. However, to her utter shock and surprise, she was placed under suspension by the District Basic Education Officer on 11-02-2021 upon false allegations that she had used forged documents for securing appointment. After replying to the show cause notice, the petitioner submitted several representations, but none of them had been considered. The District Basic Education Officer submitted that it was found in an enquiry that the petitioner had allegedly used forged documents of another person having the same name as the petitioner, who was posted as Assistant Teacher in Gorakhpur for securing her appointment.
On 08-10-2026, the Court directed the petitioner to appear before the Additional Superintendent of Police, STF., Lucknow, on 12-10-2026 and 13-10-2026 at 12 noon, with all her documents. The Court directed for a report to be furnished regarding the validity and genuineness of the documents.
In the present proceedings, the Court noted instructions of the ASP, STF, Lucknow, which revealed that the petitioner had obtained employment fraudulently, by using the educational documents of another Assistant Teacher in Gorakhpur. It was also found that the petitioner did not appear before the STF on both dates and had avoided submitting her educational qualifications for verification. It was brought to the Court’s notice and surfaced in the investigation conducted by STF that a large number of teachers in the State had obtained employment based on forged documents or by using documents of another person. The Court stated that the gravity of the matter could be judged by the fact that in several instances, ten or more persons had obtained employment against a single set of educational documents.
The Court said that
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“It is a matter of common knowledge that a large number of primary schools have been closed down, principally on account of a shortfall in the number of students. That shortfall is not attributable to a want of resources, but to the deteriorating quality of the education imparted and to the inadequate performance of the teachers. Nor is it attributable to appointments made in recent years alone; it is traceable to the practice, prevailing over the last two decades, of appointments secured by fraudulent means.”
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It was stated that when the condition of primary schools has not improved even though the government is infusing substantial resources such as free textbooks, mid-day meals, uniforms, etc., one of the principal reasons may be the quality of teachers and the fact that teachers in the government service are not discharging their duties with the seriousness and sincerity expected of them. The Court also said that a teacher should always bear in mind that no child is neglected and that for a first-generation learner, the teacher is the only route out. Further, the Court stated that the future of the next generation depends upon the quality of education imparted to it and that an effective and disciplined teacher is the need of the hour, failing which, the Court would not be able to justify the role assigned to it.
The Court said that a teacher who begins by deceiving the authority that appointed him can scarcely be relied upon to uphold the trust of the children placed under his charge. Hence, the Court directed all teachers of classes I to VIII to furnish legible copies of their appointment letters and educational documents to the Basic Shiksha Adhikari. All teachers were also directed to file notarised affidavits with particulars of their immediate relatives, whether serving or retired, who had held office in the Education Department of Uttar Pradesh at the level of Basic Shiksha Adhikari and above.
Further, the Court directed all Basic Shiksha Adhikaris to issue orders to the Headmasters and In-charge Headmasters of the schools within their territorial jurisdiction. The office of the Basic Shiksha Adhikari was directed to compile all the particulars of the teachers in an excel sheet and to forward the same together with the documents to the Range Office of the STF concerned. The head of the Range was directed to evolve a mechanism for verification of documents and the Education Department was directed to extend cooperation in furnishing such information to the STF as may be necessary to carry out the terms of this order.
The entire exercise was directed to be completed expeditiously and the Director of Education was directed to supervise the exercise undertaken by the Basic Shiksha as well as to nominate an officer for day-to-day supervision. The ADG of Police, STF was also directed to do the same. The Court stated that any laxity or dereliction of duty by any of the officers would be viewed seriously and the officer concerned would be personally held accountable.
The matter will now be put up on 04-11-2026 for reporting compliance and for further consideration.
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