Telangana HC seeks details on BC school timings, teachers’ duties

The Telangana High Court has directed the State Government to furnish details on school timings and duties assigned to teachers in BC welfare residential schools. The court was hearing a PIL challenging the timetable and allocation of non-teaching responsibilities

Hyderabad: Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice Vakiti Ramakrishna Reddy of the Telangana High Court on Monday directed the State Government to place before the court complete details regarding the school timings and duties being assigned to teachers of the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Telangana BC Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society (MJPTBCWREIS).

The Division Bench was hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by Madiri Shiply, a businessman from LB Nagar, questioning the timetable followed in BC welfare residential schools and the assignment of teachers to non-teaching duties.

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Counsel for the petitioner submitted that although the working hours of the residential schools were prescribed from 8 a.m. to 4.30 p.m., teachers were being assigned supervisory study duties between 2.30 p.m. and 4.30 p.m. It was contended that such a practice was contrary to the orders earlier passed by the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh High Court.

The petitioner also sought extension of the revised school timings from 8 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. to 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. and urged the court to ensure that teachers were not burdened with non-educational duties, including supervisory and hostel-related responsibilities.

The Bench issued notices to the Principal Secretary, School Education Department, and other respondents. The Government Pleader sought time to place the complete details before the court.

The Bench accordingly adjourned the matter by two weeks and directed the Government Pleader to furnish the requisite information before the next date of hearing.