HC pulls up govt, DSSSB over hiring of school teachers

The Delhi High Court on Monday issued a notice to the Delhi government seeking a reply from them on a plea which sought a stay on the order of the Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB) withdrawing a notice on the appointment of 8,914 school teachers.

Justice A K Chawla also sought a reply from DSSSB and directed both the respondents to file their replies within a week, and listing the matter for September 21.

The court's direction came after a plea, filed by Advocate Ashok Agarwal, stated that the notice of the DSSSB given out on August 24 was 'illegal and contemptuous in nature'.

The recruitment board was set up by the Delhi government with the aim to recruit capable, competent and highly-skilled individuals by conducting written tests, professional tests and personal interviews.

According to the petition, the court had directed the DSSSB to ensure that there are zero vacancies of teachers in the schools run by the government at the beginning of each academic year.

"Unfortunately, the directions have never been complied with, resulting in an accumulation of vacancies of teaching posts since 2011," an NGO Social Jurist said in its petition. The NGO added, "No attempt has been made by the DSSSB for the last several years to fill up the posts and provide regular teachers."