Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court issued notices to respondents on a petition challenging the BC residential schools timetable and teachers’ deployment for non-teaching duties.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice Vakiti Ramakrishna Reddy heard the matter.
Petitioner Madiri Shiply challenged G.O. Ms. No.16 dated July 2, 2024. The order fixed school timings for the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Telangana Backward Classes Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society (MJPTBCWREIS) from 8 am to 4.30 pm.
Under the order, students spent the 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm period in supervised study. The petitioner argued that the period replaced regular teacher-led classes.
Advocate Barkat Ali Khan, appearing for the petitioner, argued that the order violated applicable educational norms and G.O. Ms. No.3. He also cited directions issued by the then Andhra Pradesh High Court in a similar public interest litigation.
According to the petitioner’s counsel, the supervisory study arrangement reduced regular teaching periods. He submitted that 7,920 periods in an academic year were affected.
BC residential schools timetable faces warden-related concerns
The petitioner also raised concerns about warden availability in residential schools. Counsel said authorities had not followed the 1:50 warden-to-student ratio prescribed under Clause 14 of the NCPCR Guidelines.
As a result, teachers were allegedly assigned hostel and supervisory responsibilities when wardens were unavailable. These duties also included night shifts, the petitioner’s counsel submitted.
Khan argued that such deployment conflicted with Section 27 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. The provision restricts the assignment of teachers to non-educational duties.
The counsel also informed the court about a later timetable revision for certain similarly placed residential institutions. That revision discontinued the 8.15 am to 9 am timing.
However, the revision did not include MJPTBCWREIS, Khan submitted. The petitioner argued that the exclusion amounted to discriminatory treatment of similarly situated institutions and violated Article 14 of the Constitution.
The petitioner sought the quashing of G.O. Ms. No.16 dated July 2, 2024. He also sought extension of the revised 9 am to 4.30 pm timetable to MJPTBCWREIS.
In addition, the petitioner sought directions for strict compliance with Section 27 of the RTE Act. The plea specifically sought restrictions on assigning teachers to non-educational, hostel and warden duties.
After hearing the submissions, the Division Bench issued notices to the respondents. The court posted the matter for two weeks.