Teachers Caring For Their Self- Interests Alone & Not The Interest Of Their Pupils A 'Lamentable State Of Affairs': Himachal Pradesh High Court

The Bench of Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Chander Bhusan Barowalia sternly remarked,

"Instead of being a role model, (the petitioner) indulged in an unnecessary and otherwise avoidable litigation, that too, to safeguards his individual interest, over and above that of the students."

The matter before the Court

The petitioner after rendering service for a considerable time came to be promoted as Headmaster on 24^th April 2018, thereafter, on 29^th September 2020, he was appointed as Principal and was posted at Government Senior Secondary School, Dugli, Tehsil Churah, District Chamba, where he was serving when he filed the instant petition.

He sought a direction to the State of Himachal Pradesh to transfer him from 'hard area to soft area/station' contending that he had completed his normal tenure in the hard area and had crossed the age of 55 years.

Court's observations

At the outset, the Court remarked that the standards expected of a person practicing the noble teaching profession must be ideal so that the students may know and practice the best principles of a civilized life.

Significantly, the Court also remarked,

"The teacher in Indian society has been elevated as God. A teacher creates knowledge, learning, wisdom and equip the students with ability and knowledge, discipline and intellect to enable them to face challenges of the life."

Further, the Court stressed that a teacher is a preserver of learning and destroys ignorance and therefore, as a member of the noble teaching profession, he should be a role model.

"Without a dedicated and disciplined teacher, even the best education system is bound to fail. Therefore, it is the duty of the teacher to take care of pupil(s) as a careful parent would take care of its children," the Court added.

Also, read Live Law's compilation of Supreme Court Judgments On Noble Profession Of Teaching: Teachers' Day: SC Judgments On Noble Profession Of Teaching

Importantly, in view of the facts of the case, the Court further noted,

"It would be a very lamentable state of affairs that when teachers who are considered as equal to God, would fall from the highest pedestal to the lowest level by caring and looking after their self- interests alone and not the interest of their pupil(s)."

Further, the Court observed that it needs no rocket science to conclude that the Headmasters, who are later on promoted as Principals, are in all likelihood bound to be above 55 years of age, and on being promoted as such, they are liable to be transferred/served anywhere in the State.

Therefore, the Court ruled that no exception could be taken against the transfer on the ground that the petitioner had crossed the age of 55 years.

Lastly, highlighting that the Education Department is one of the biggest litigants before the Court and majority of their writ petitions only relate to the transfer and adjustment of the teachers, the Court said,

"It is not the teachers alone, who are to be blamed for this, as even the government despite imposing ban on transfers by issuing notification(s) to this effect blatantly violates these notification(s)."

Case title - Sh. Milap Chand v. State of H.P. & Ors. [CWP No. 1607 of 2021]

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