HC favours regularisation of 230 ad-hoc teachers
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, October 25 2024: High Court of Manipur issued an interim order on Friday suspending the recent cancellation of regularisation for 230 ad-hoc teachers in compliance with the previous court directions.

The court was responding to a petition filed by H Thoiba Singh and six others challenging the Government of Manipur's decision, dated October 10, 2024, which annulled the regularisation of service of 502 ad-hoc teachers over alleged procedural irregularities, such as non-production of attendance records at the time of regularisation.

Senior counsel N Jotendro, representing the petitioners, argued that the cancellation of regularisation for the petitioners, among the 502 teachers, was contrary to previous court rulings.

The court had earlier directed the regularisation of these (230) teachers in compliance with orders from 2021 and 2023, which had since reached finality.

The petitioners contended that cancelling their regularisation without a hearing or specific listing of affected employees amounted to termination without due process.

Representing the state, advocate general Lenin Hijam contended that the government holds authority to correct administrative oversights and cited a recent Supreme Court ruling, which invalidated the appointment of 1,423 teachers in Manipur due to significant irregularities.

He indicated that the government is contemplating a review or appeal of the previous court directions on regularisation.

After reviewing the submissions, the court held that the October 10, 2024, order effectively amounted to a review of the court-mandated regularisation and warranted suspension.

The High Court suspended the cancellation order with respect to the 230 ad-hoc teachers regularised under prior court directives, maintaining that the state may seek redress in an appropriate forum if it wishes to reopen the matter.

The case has been scheduled for further hearing on November 22, 2024 .

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