The Democratic Teachers' Front (DTF) has welcomed the Punjab and Haryana High Court's decision to remove the stay on the promotion of government school principals, describing the order as a significant step forward in resolving a long-standing issue.
High Court Order Removes Major Hurdle
On Monday, the DTF issued a statement applauding the court's ruling, which effectively lifts a previous stay that had stalled the promotion process for principals. The teachers' union noted that it had been actively pursuing this matter for an extended period and now expects the state Education Department to expedite promotions not only for principals but also for other teaching cadres.
DTF state president Digvijaypal Sharma and state secretary Resham Singh Khemuana pointed out that promotions to the post of principal had been delayed for several years. They recalled that the government had revised the recruitment policy from a 50:50 ratio to 75:25, meaning 75% of principal posts would be filled through promotions and 25% through direct recruitment. This policy change initially raised hopes among senior lecturers, master cadre teachers, and others awaiting advancement. However, the process came to a halt after the High Court granted a stay.
Urgent Need for Regular Principals
The union described the High Court's recent order as a pivotal development and urged the Education Department to issue promotion orders without further delay. According to the DTF, nearly 65% to 70% of principal posts in Punjab's secondary schools are currently vacant. This shortage leaves many schools without regular heads, adversely affecting their day-to-day administration and overall functioning.
The DTF also demanded that the department complete pending promotions across various cadres, including from master cadre to lecturer, headmaster, centre head teacher to BPEO, and primary to master cadre. Additionally, the union called for immediate recruitment against vacant posts under the direct recruitment quota to address the staff shortage in government schools.
Sustained Campaign and Legal Efforts
The union credited its sustained campaign and legal efforts for the latest development and thanked its members who represented the matter in court. It emphasized that the focus should now be on ensuring the court order is implemented at the earliest. This would allow schools to receive regular principals and enable the long-pending promotion process across different cadres to move forward.
