The Allahabad High Court has ordered a statewide verification of the appointment letters and educational documents of all teachers of Classes I to VIII in Uttar Pradesh, to be routed through the Special Task Force (STF). Justice Vinod Diwakar issued the directions on October 16, 2026, while hearing a writ petition by a teacher who, according to STF instructions placed before the Court, had obtained employment using another person’s educational documents.
Background
In compliance with the Court’s earlier order dated 08.10.2026, the office of the Additional Superintendent of Police, STF, Lucknow, furnished instructions revealing that the petitioner, Kusumlata, had obtained employment fraudulently by using the educational documents of one Kusumlata Srivastava, an Assistant Teacher serving at Composite Primary School, Baraipar, Kodipur, District Gorakhpur.
The instructions also revealed that the petitioner did not appear before the STF on 12.10.2026 or 13.10.2026 and had avoided submitting her educational qualifications for verification.
Submissions
On the previous date of hearing, counsel for the petitioner, Advocates Raja Sahani and Richesh Mishra, submitted that she could not submit her documents as she had recently undergone surgery and was on bed rest. When the matter was taken up on October 16, none appeared for the petitioner. The State was represented by Arun Kumar Tripathi, Chief Standing Counsel.
During the arguments, it was brought to the Court’s notice, and it had also surfaced in the STF’s investigation, that a large number of teachers in the State had obtained employment on forged documents or the documents of another person. The Court noted that in several instances, ten or more persons had obtained employment against a single set of educational documents.
The Court also referred to a coordinate Bench order dated 22.01.2026 in Garima Singh v. State of U.P. and two others, which had directed the Principal Secretary to act against teachers appointed by fraud and against officials who colluded with such appointments.
Allahabad High Court on Fraudulent Teacher Appointments
Addressing the closure of primary schools due to falling enrolment, the Court observed that “That shortfall is not attributable to a want of resources, but to the deteriorating quality of the education imparted and to the inadequate performance of the teachers.” It added that this was traceable to fraudulent appointments prevailing over the last two decades.
Listing the qualities expected of a teacher, the Court stressed a sense of the trust reposed, noting that “for a first-generation learner, the teacher is the only route out.”
Justice Diwakar held that a teacher appointed through fraud cannot be expected to possess these qualities, observing: “One who begins by deceiving the authority that appointed him can scarcely be relied upon to uphold the trust of the children placed under his charge.”
Directions Issued
- All teachers of Classes I to VIII must submit legible copies of their appointment letters and educational documents, including High School, Intermediate, Graduation, B.Ed./B.T.C. (D.El.Ed., B.El.Ed., etc.) and TET/CTET, to the Basic Shiksha Adhikari within one week of the BSA’s notification.
- Teachers must file notarised affidavits disclosing immediate relatives, serving or retired, who have held office in the UP Education Department at the level of Basic Shiksha Adhikari and above, or an undertaking that they have none.
- BSA offices must compile the data in an Excel sheet and forward it, with the documents, to the STF Range Office concerned.
- The Director of Education will supervise the BSAs’ exercise, while the Additional Director General of Police, STF, will supervise the verification and investigation.
The Court warned that any laxity or dereliction of duty by the named officers would be viewed seriously and the officer concerned may be held personally accountable.
The matter will be listed as fresh on 04.11.2026 for reporting compliance and further consideration.
Case Title: Kusumlata v. State of U.P. and 2 Others
Case No.: Writ-A No. 11906 of 2026
Bench: Justice Vinod Diwakar
Date: October 16, 2026
