In a significant move to address the educational staffing crisis in Jharkhand, the High Court on Tuesday mandated the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) to establish a clear deadline for the appointment of teachers in government schools throughout the state. The directive came from a division bench led by Chief Justice MS Ramachandra Rao and Justice Deepak Roshan during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) initiated by economist and social activist Jean Dreze.
The PIL highlights the acute shortage of teachers that has plagued state-run schools, placing Jharkhand among the lowest-ranked states in terms of teacher availability. According to the petition, backed by data from the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE), a staggering 30% of government schools in the state are operating with just one teacher. This stark situation fails to meet the requirements set by the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009, which mandates at least two teachers per school and one teacher for every 30 students.
Jean Dreze’s petition also brings to light that no new teacher appointments have been made since 2016, despite the JSSC having conducted exams to fill 26,000 teaching positions across the state. The continued delay in these appointments has sparked concerns and prompted the legal challenge.
As the court adjourned, it scheduled the next hearing for April 16, awaiting the JSSC’s compliance with its order to expedite the teacher recruitment process.
