The Allahabad High Court has issued a significant order directing the Uttar Pradesh government to undertake a statewide scrutiny of all assistant teacher appointments amid concerns over fraudulent recruitments involving forged educational and domicile certificates. In its judgment, the court described a “disturbing pattern” of appointments obtained on fake documents that has persisted over the years and observed that despite multiple government circulars and instructions, authorities tasked with ensuring the integrity of hiring in the education sector have failed to act effectively.
Comprehensive Review and Timeline
A bench led by Justice Manju Rani Chauhan directed the Principal Secretary (Basic Education) to complete the comprehensive review exercise within six months. The review must cover all assistant teacher appointments across Uttar Pradesh to identify cases where appointments were secured through fraudulent means. The court emphasised that this scrutiny is essential to protect the quality of education for students and uphold public trust in the recruitment system.
Actions to Be Taken Against Fraudulent Appointments
The directions from the High Court include:
- Cancellation of illegal appointments obtained through forged or fabricated documentation.
- Recovery of salaries paid to individuals whose appointments are found to be fraudulent.
- Disciplinary and penal action against officials and authorities who colluded, abetted, or ignored irregularities in the hiring process.
During the hearing, the court rejected a challenge to the cancellation of one such appointment, where a teacher had continued in service for nearly 15 years before a fresh document verification revealed forgery. The court held that continuing such appointments undermines the education system at its roots.
Legal and Administrative Context
The petitioner, Garima Singh, had filed a writ petition challenging the cancellation of her appointment after being found to have secured her job using forged certificates. However, the court dismissed the plea, noting that appointments obtained by fraud cannot be validated under the Uttar Pradesh Government Servant (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1999. The order makes clear that authorities must now act proactively and in a time-bound manner to ensure that only eligible candidates hold teaching positions, and to prevent future abuse of the recruitment process.
Why This Matters?
The directive comes amid broader scrutiny of teacher recruitment processes in Uttar Pradesh, where similar issues have surfaced in past years, affecting thousands of assistant teachers and stirring demands for transparent and fair hiring practices. The High Court’s order aims to strengthen oversight mechanisms, safeguard students’ right to quality education, and restore confidence in public school recruitment procedures.