Review misconduct of teachers resorting private tuitions: Madras HC

In the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, Justice SM Subramaniam remarked that this practice is spreading like cancer as teachers have developed greed for money and the same amounts to misconduct. 

Slamming teachers who take private tuition classes for remuneration and do other businesses, the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court has issued strict directions to prevent government school teachers from flouting the Tamil Nadu Government Servants (Conditions of Service) Act, 2016 and Service Rules. Taking tuitions or involving in other part-time employment is becoming a popular practice among teachers of government schools.

In the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, Justice SM Subramaniam remarked that this practice is spreading like cancer as teachers have developed greed for money and the same amounts to misconduct. According to Bar and Bench, the court said that with this continuously growing practice the government cannot expect the better performance of the duties and devotion to duty from the teachers.

Review such misconduct in best interest of students

Such misconduct has to be viewed seriously in the interest of students and the education system, the Court added. In order to ensure that the directions by the Court, passed to check misconduct by teachers are implemented, the Court suo moto impleaded the Principal Secretary to Government, School Education Department and the Commissioner of School Education. Seeking a review of the teachers' responsibilities and scrutinize the reasons for their slackness, the Court further said that students coming out of government schools were not at par with their counterparts from private schools.

“Unfortunately, what is prevailing in our society is that these teachers are largely indulging in taking private tuition classes, doing business or part-time employment etc.,” Justice Subramaniam then pointed out. He said that the time had come for the Court to emphasise on teachers’ duties as opposed to their rights.

“When a teacher claims a right, equally the performance of duties is to be emphasised. But, the trend is that the duties are not considered as important," the order said. The Court then released orders and directed the State to investigate and act against teachers taking private tuition classes.

The state also received directions to start helplines to lodge complaints against misconduct by teachers inside and outside school. Teachers’ periodic work assessment was also ordered.

A direction was also issued to frame guidelines to monitor the conduct of teachers. The respondents were asked to file a compliance report within four weeks and the case was listed on April 4.

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