HC directs Meghalaya govt to give pension to deficit teachers

The Meghalaya High Court has directed the state government to provide pension to the teachers of government-aided or ad hoc schools, deficit schools and colleges as per the recommendations of the 5th Pay Commission.

Justice S R Sen directed the Meghalaya government that the pensions would have to be given with retrospective effect and within three months.

Government-aided or ad hoc schools and deficit schools and colleges are institutes that receive different types of support from the state government.

These teachers should be given pension as is given to government school and college teachers as per the Government Pension Rules and the regulations could be amended to include the deficit teachers, the court said.

The state government had argued that the appointment of these teachers was made by the respective school management committees, but the court rejected it.

However, as the new Pension Scheme came into effect from April 1, 2010, the order will not be applicable to the teachers who have retired or joined service prior to that date.