NEW DELHI, July 26 (Xinhua) -- India's top court has quashed appointment of 178,000 teachers in junior schools of northern state of Uttar Pradesh, officials said Wednesday.
The apex court quashed their appointment for not holding adequate qualifications as fixed by the federal government under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act.
The local government appointed the teaching helpers in 1999 under scheme known as Shiksha Mitras (educational friends), in every government primary school for the betterment of primary education.
"The court held that their jobs could not be regularized at the cost of fundamental right of children to free quality education by duly qualified teachers," an official said. "The court, however, said they (Shiksha Mitras) should be given opportunity to be considered for recruitment as teachers if they have now acquired the requisite qualification."
Shiksha Mitras were supposed to help out the villagers in getting their children enrolled in schools and raise awareness about the need for education.
The local government appointed them as assistant teachers and until 2015 more than 137,000 have been accommodated.
However, in September of 2015, the state's high court termed this appointment illegal.
