Supreme Court Reviews Compliance of States on Appointment of Special Educators.
16 September 2025
Education >> Miscellaneous
On September 16, 2025, a Bench consisting of Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Augustine George Masih of the Supreme Court of India heard the compliance status of different States and Union Territories in view of previous directions on the appointment and regularization of special educators. The proceedings arise out of Writ Petition (Civil) No. 132 of 2016, Rajneesh Kumar Pandey & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors., which has given rise to extensive litigation and intervention applications throughout the years.
Senior Counsel Rishi Malhotra, appearing amicus curiae, placed before the court an exhaustive chart of the steps taken by States and Union Territories. He noted that though a couple of States have achieved impressive progress, the majority of States have not been following the orders of the Supreme Court in full. Accepting his proposal, the Bench resolved to follow up compliance on weekly basis, choosing five States or Union Territories at a time.
Key Developments:
Chhattisgarh:
The Additional Solicitor General representing Chhattisgarh assured the Court that the State had published an advertisement for 100 lying vacant posts of special educators in July 2025. Nonetheless, the State insisted that no contractual or ad hoc teachers were hired. This position was opposed by the Rehabilitation Council of India Trade Teachers' Association, which claimed otherwise and was allowed liberty to produce documentary evidence. The Court ordered Chhattisgarh to finalize the recruitment process on or before October 31, 2025, and to return a complete compliance affidavit by November 7, 2025.
Meghalaya:
Meghalaya's counsel reported to the Court that 283 special teacher posts had been sanctioned, of which 106 contractual teachers already had the Rehabilitation Council of India certification. Regularizing their services is due for decisions by the end of October 2025. The Court ordered a compliance affidavit to be filed by November 7, 2025.
Bihar:
In accordance with the State's new affidavit, more than 7,200 special teacher posts were approved in April 2025 and recruitment was started by the Bihar Public Service Commission in June. The State confirmed that 816 places are reserved for current contractual or ad hoc teachers who will undergo screening. The Court emphasized no contractual teacher worth their salt be left behind and instructed the State to submit a fresh compliance affidavit on or before November 7, 2025.
Himachal Pradesh:
The Court was informed that Himachal Pradesh advertised 245 posts of special educators in August 2024 and then held a Teacher Eligibility Test in June 2025, with results announced in August 2025. The State was ordered to make appointments strictly in terms of the merit list by October 31, 2025, and report compliance by November 7, 2025.
Jharkhand:
No representative of Jharkhand attended the hearing. The Court said that it would hear the State's view on the next date of hearing.
Other Directions:
The Court permitted the withdrawal of some interlocutory applications pertaining to directions and impleadment, and they were dismissed as withdrawn. It also ordered that compliance matters in Jharkhand, Delhi, Orissa, Punjab, and Nagaland would be heard on September 23, 2025. Interim relief directed previously would remain in force up to then, pending objections by the counsel for the Government of NCT of Delhi.