NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has directed all states and union territories to notify the number of sanctioned posts for teachers who are responsible for educating children with special needs by March 28, 2025.
A bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and K Vinod Chandran pointed out that, despite its 2021 judgment, many states and union territories had failed to make the necessary appointments for these sanctioned positions.
The court noted that a significant number of states had not even identified the posts required to support the education of children with special needs, despite having data on the number of such children.
โEach state and UT shall come out with notifications detailing the number of posts they have sanctioned for teachers who will impart education to children with special needs,โ the bench stated.
The court also instructed that once the posts are notified, advertisements should be published in at least two widely circulated newspapers, as well as on the websites of the education departments and respective state governments.
This order follows a plea filed by Rajneesh Kumar Pandey, represented by advocate Prashant Shukle, highlighting a shortage of special educators, particularly in Uttar Pradesh.
The petition, supported by 17 teachers who had undergone the required training, emphasized the need for qualified professionals in every school to make the Right to Education successful and equip children with special needs for future challenges.
The court further emphasized that only competent, qualified, or eligible teachers should be selected for these positions.
It was revealed that in several states, ad-hoc and contractual teachers had been assigned to educate children with special needs, some of whom had been working for over 20 years.
The court directed states to immediately form a screening committee consisting of experts and relevant officials to address these issues.
