In a stern move addressing the plight of qualified unemployed youth, the Orissa High Court has taken serious note of a petition challenging the state government’s decision to appoint retired teachers as guest faculty in various educational institutions.
The court, going beyond school-level vacancies, has directed the government to disclose steps taken to fill empty professor, associate professor, and assistant professor positions in universities. Justice Dixit Krishna Shripada, while hearing the case, issued notices to the Chief Secretary and university Vice-Chancellors, requiring them to file affidavits with factual details ahead of the next hearing.
The petition, filed by Arpita Priyadarshini and three others, argues that thousands of teaching posts remain unfilled across the state, depriving eligible job seekers of opportunities. It contends that the government’s reliance on retired personnel as guest teachers not only bypasses regular recruitment but also compromises education quality, violating the Right to Education (RTE) Act and National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) guidelines. The plea specifically calls for scrapping the decision to appoint 6,387 guest teachers and initiating a structured, regular recruitment drive to address these gaps.
When pressed by the court on the scale of vacancies, government counsel revealed stark figures: According to the Director of Secondary Education, 12,723 teacher posts are lying vacant. In higher education, documents from the department show that in state universities, 260 out of 298 professor positions are unfilled, 453 out of 591 associate professor posts remain empty, and a staggering 1,404 out of 2,073 assistant professor slots are vacant.
The state defended its approach, stating that emergency measures akin to wartime recruitment are underway alongside ongoing regular hiring processes. Officials warned that halting guest appointments could disrupt student learning and cause harm to the academic ecosystem. The petitioners’ counsel, Samir Kumar Das, is advocating for immediate reforms to prioritise fresh talent.
The next hearing is scheduled for November 10, as the court seeks a comprehensive response to ensure accountability in Odisha’s education sector.
