SC’s Decision Disappoints 3.5 Lakh Contractual Teachers in Bihar 

Patna: A day after Supreme Court’s decision in favour of the state government, thousands of contractual school teachers in Bihar are angry and have threatened to go on strike.

Setting aside the Patna High Court judgement, the Supreme Court refused to regularise jobs of about 3.5 lakh contractual teachers in Bihar on Friday.

In protest of this verdict, many contractual school teachers – also known as Niyojit Shikshak – have declared that they will be availing the NOTA option in the remaining two phases of Lok Sabha elections, according to Premchandra, secretary of Patna Circle Primary Teachers’ Asociation.

Sixteen parliamentary constituencies from Bihar are yet to vote in the ongoing polls.

Bihar Panchayat Nagar Prarambhik Sikhshak Sangh state president Anand Kaushal Singh told NewsClick that after this verdict, contractual school teachers have no option but to take to the streets to protest against Nitish Kumar-led government. “We will plan a phase-wise agitation against the state government for our demand of equal pay for equal work,” he said.

He added that after summer holidays in school, contractual teachers will hold a state-level meeting on June 2 in Patna to decide the strategies of protest and agitation. “We will also file a review petition in the apex court soon to challenge this decision.”

His view was echoed by Markandey Pathak, state president of Niyojit Sikshak Sangh. Similarly, Bihar Rajya Prathmik Sikshak Sangh’s Manoj Kumar and TET Sikshak Sangh’s Amit Vikram have supported the move to file review petition in the apex court.

Meanwhile, Bihar Rajya Arajpatrit Karamchari Mahasangh (Gope) announced their support to the contractual school teachers.

The state government had challenged Patna High Court's order, which had ruled that contractual teachers in government schools were entitled to salary on par with regular permanent teachers working in various government schools in Bihar.

Contractual teachers have been agitating for their demand of equal pay and regularisation, and have staged protests several times.

Naushad Alam, a contractual worker from the state told NewsClick that contractual teachers are paid their salaries regularly. “Government has been treating us differently despite the fact that we work equally hard. Majority of contractual teachers belong to the poor socio-economic background and are facing a financial crisis,” he said.

With Lok Sabha polls underway, Bihar opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav has attacked Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, saying that his government is responsible for the court’s decision.

“Nitish-Modi has crores of rupees to spend on the rich and the corporates, but has no money to pay the school teachers who shape the future of the students and the country,” said Tejashwi.

Tejashwi added that if his party’s government is formed at the Centre or in Bihar, all the genuine demand of the contractual teachers will be fulfilled.

However, Bihar Education Minister K N Verna has assured contractual teachers that state government will take care of their interests. He has appealed to them not to agitate for their demands.

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