Delhi HC directs MCDs to expedite appointment of special educators in its schools

There are more than 1,126 vacancies of Special Educator (Primary) in MCD schools. The court had said that authorities need to view the matter from “the perspective of underprivileged children and, then, perhaps, tweak the policy to cater to their needs”.

The L-G has now granted one-time age relaxation of 10 years, beyond the age limit prescribed for the same post in MCD schools, for the vacancies till December 2022. The government has, however, said the relaxations would not be applicable for the posts advertised previously.

The counsel representing the East, South and North Delhi municipal corporations assured the court that once the results are declared for the posts, vacancies shall be identified and duly advertised.

The court in the order has directed the municipal corporations “to identify leftover vacancies and expected slots/vacancies qua the post of Special Educator (Primary), which would be available till December 2022, at the earliest, though not later than four weeks from the date of the declaration of result”.

The order has been passed in a petition challenging the Central Administrative Tribunal’s decision not to interfere with the authorities’ March 2020 decision of providing the age relaxation only in respect of those posts advertised in 2017. The CAT in July 2020 said the candidates cannot insist on the relaxation being made a permanent measure.

However, the division bench last month noted that the authorities in December 2019 in respect of government-run schools had provided a one-time age relaxation of 10 years for all Special Education Teacher posts but in respect of Special Educator (Primary) posts of municipal schools limited such benefit to only posts advertised in 2017.