Apex Court stays order quashing appointment of 2L UP teachers

In a major relief to nearly two lakh contractual teachers in primary schools in Uttar Pradesh, the Supreme Court Monday stayed the Allahabad High Court verdict declaring as illegal the state government's move to regularize their services and appoint them as Assistant Teachers.

"There is a need to consider every aspect of the case," a Bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and U U Lalit said and stayed the operation of the order passed by the High Court.

Advocate General Vijay Bahadur Singh, appearing for Uttar Pradesh, assailed the High Court order, claiming nearly 40 teachers, who lost their jobs as a consequence of the verdict, have committed suicide.

Senior advocates P Chidambaram and A M Singhvi, appearing for the teachers, said most of the affected teachers had been working since 1999.

The court, while staying the HC order, fixed the petitions for final hearing in the last week of February next year.