Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, Nov 18: The government today banned all assignments and activities, including private tuition by School Education Department faculty in Jammu and Kashmir.
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According to an order issued by the Principal Secretary of the School Education Department, Alok Kumar, some members of the teaching staff of the School Education Department are engaged in coaching assignments in private institutions and coaching centres even during school hours, in violation of the Jammu and Kashmir Government Employees (Conduct) Rules of 1971 and Chapter IV, Section 28 of RTE Ac.
The Government made it clear that no teaching staff member shall engage in any activity or assignment, including teaching at a private school or coaching facility unless prior approval from the appropriate authority has been obtained.
“It has also been provided in Chapter (IV) Section 28, of the RTE Act, 2009, – Prohibition of Private Tuition by Teachers that no teacher shall engage himself or herself in private tuition or private teaching activity. In spite of these, it has been observed that some members of the teaching faculty of the School Education Department are undertaking coaching assignments in private institutions and coaching centres even during school hours in violation of Rule 10 of the Jammu and Kashmir Government Employees (Conduct) Rules, 1971, as well as Chapter IV, Section 28 of the RTE Act, 2009,” the order stated.
It further said that the High Court also directed the government last year to follow Rule 10 of the Employees’ Conduct Rules in letter and spirit. “The High Court in WP (C) No. 10/2021 titled Farooq Ahmed V/S UT of J&K & Ors has also directed on March 31, 2021, that the Department of Education (School and Higher Education) is directed to implement in letter and spirit Rule 10 of the Employees Conduct Rules and ensure that no member of its teaching faculty engages in private tuition at private coaching or tuition centres without prior sanction of the Government,” the order stated.
The order said that the Nodal Officers will be the Zonal Education Officers and the District Education Officers, who will ensure the implementation of Rule 10 of the Employees Conduct Rules and any circulars or instructions issued by the Government to give effect to Rule 10 of the Employees Conduct Rules. “The Government shall do well to create and provide a toll-free telephone number in each district where the complaint(s) against the banned activity of the teaching faculty could be made,” the order said.
It further stated that in supersession of all earlier circulars or instructions issued on the subject, it is impressed upon all the teaching faculty of the School Education Department, J&K, to strictly adhere to the instructions as provided in Rule 10 of the Jammu and Kashmir Government Employees (Conduct) Rules, 1971, and Chapter IV, Section 28 of the RTE Act, 2009, and not to indulge in any private trade or practise or private tuitions. “No teaching faculty shall undertake any activity or assignment, including teaching in a private educational institution or coaching centre unless he/she obtains prior sanction from the competent authority,” it stated.
The order further read that any violation in this regard shall invite disciplinary action against the delinquent officer(s) or official(s), as warranted under the rules. “The Director of School Education, Jammu and Kashmir, all Chief Education Officer(s), Zonal Education Officer(s), Principal(s) of Higher Secondary Schools, and Headmasters of all Government schools in the UT of J&K are entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring that no member of the teaching faculty of the School Education Department violates the aforementioned circular instructions and also implementing the directions of the High Court passed in WP (C) No. 10/2021 titled Farooq Ahmed V/S UT of J&K & Ors vide order dated March 31, 2021, in letter and spirit,” it said.
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