Parishad seeks govt nod to pay shiksha mitras

ALLAHABAD: The Basic Shiksha Parishad has sought state government’s nod for disbursement of salary to around 1.72 lakh siksha mitras regularised as assistant teachers in two phases in the last two years.
The move comes after the Supreme Court on December 7, stayed the Allahabad High Court’s September 12, 2015 decision quashing amendment in education department’s norms for absorption of the siksha mitras.
Government’s nod would enable shiksha mitras to draw salaries blocked since October. Basic Siksha Parishad secretary Sanjay Sinha said, “60,442 and 72,000 siksha mitras were absorbed as assistant teachers across the state in junior schools in two phases. Later, several petitions were filed with the Allahabad High Court challenging the government’s move. Disposing these petitions, the academic qualification for the recruitment of siksha mitras was set aside by the court. The court also termed it as unconstitutional and ultra vires. All consequential executive orders of the state government regarding absorption of siksha mitras into the regular service of the state as assistant teachers was also quashed and set aside. The SC later stayed the HC order.”
As per the letter (numbered 14456-57) sent to the education department, the Parishad stated the status on siksha mitra had reverted to the date before Septemebr 12, 2015. “So the state government can disburse salary after holding deliberations in this context,” said Sinha, who had forwarded the letter following the state government's directions of a formal request on the issue.
UP Prathamik Shikshak Mitra Sangh’s Dinesh Yadav said, “It is a welcome step that finally steps are being taken to ensure distribution of salary after four months.”