Legal Action Against AWOL Teachers in UP: Government Takes a Stand | Lucknow News

Lucknow: Head teachers of govt schools, block education officers and district basic education officers (BSAs) who fail to act against errant teachers and non-teaching staff in state-run schools will face consequences. The basic education department has issued strict instructions to all BSAs for not acting against teachers and other support staff for their prolonged absenteeism. This comes in view of increasing petitions from govt teachers and non-teaching staff in state-run schools demanding payment of their salaries despite being irregular and missing school for a long time.
In a missive to all BSAs, departmental director PS Baghel stated that no teacher shall be entitled to offline leaves, and legal action will be taken against those who do not report to work without getting their leaves approved. It has been four years since the department switched to the online mode for applying for leaves on the Manav Sampada portal. Baghel, in his directives, specified that even though teachers are not getting their leaves sanctioned online, no legal action is taken against them by the officers concerned.
To safeguard the educational interests of students studying in public schools, Baghel stated that those remaining out of work will now face legal action as per the provisions given in UP basic education council employee class rules, 1973 and UP govt servant (discipline and appeal) rules, 1999. In addition, the department will hold all head teachers, BEOs and BSAs accountable for not taking legal action against errant teachers and non-teaching staff and will take legal action against these officers.
“For a smooth teaching-learning system in schools, the regular attendance of teachers and non-teaching staff in schools is a must. The long absence of teachers defeats the purpose of imparting good quality education to govt school children,” said an official.