Coming to the rescue of Kashmiri migrant teachers working in government and municipal schools on contractual basis since 1994, Delhi High Court has directed that they be regularised within three months.
In his directions to Delhi government and the municipal corporations, Justice Rajiv Shakdher also said that these teachers, who initially numbered 199, be "given emoluments and benefits which are paid and extended to regular employees falling in the same category" of Trained Graduate Teachers (TGTs) and Post Graduate Teachers (PGTs).
Regarding 12 of the 199 teachers who had retired and two who had expired, the court directed "in respect of those, amongst petitioners, who have been disengaged from employment, or have expired during pendency of the writ petition, Delhi government shall treat them as regular employees and grant them suitable benefits as would be available to permanent or regular employees."
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The high court issued the directions while disposing of a plea of Kashmiri Migrant Teachers (KMTs) who had sought equal pay and work benefits as well as their regularisation after their representations to the Centre and the Delhi government failed to get them any relief.
While issuing the directions, the court said "the difference in pay, as it obtains today, is substantial". It noted that as per 2015 figures, regular PGT and TGTs in government schools were getting Rs 70,401 and Rs 60,496, respectively, while KMTs in these categories were getting Rs 29,187 and Rs 28,773.
In MCD schools, while regular teachers now get Rs 49,900, while KMTs were being paid Rs 25,000, it said.
The court also noted that while regular teachers were also given allowances and benefits like, 10 per cent of school fees for child education, medical benefit for the entire family, bonus of Rs 3,454 per year, LTC of Rs 1,50,000 above once every four years and two months summer vacation, KMTs were allowed only eight days casual leave.
