Supreme Court Rules No Job Loss for UP Instructors

The jobs of about 25,000 part-time teachers (instructors) who have been working in Uttar Pradesh for years will not be terminated. The way for their honorarium of 17,000 rupees has also been cleared.

The Supreme Court has dismissed the state government’s appeal, in which the UP government was against increasing the honorarium of instructors. The Supreme Court’s double bench has clearly stated that the appointment of instructors cannot be considered merely contractual even after the expiry of the stipulated contractual period.

This decision of the Supreme Court has brought direct relief to teachers who have been demanding an increase in honorarium since around 2013. The Supreme Court said in its order that part-time teachers were kept on the job even after the expiry of the stipulated contractual period and were also prevented from taking up other jobs. In such a situation, this appointment is no longer merely contractual.

The court held that in these circumstances, such posts would be deemed to have been created automatically, and the government cannot evade responsibility by calling them temporary.

State government’s appeal dismissed, teachers win

The Supreme Court, completely dismissing the state government’s appeal, stated that part-time teachers have suffered injustice for years. This decision by the court is considered a major legal victory for thousands of instructors and part-time teachers in Uttar Pradesh. The Supreme Court upheld the High Court’s order, affirming the decision to provide the full benefit of a honorarium of 17,000.

Supreme Court asked – What is the problem in increasing the honorarium?

In this case related to the honorarium of instructors, a detailed hearing of about three hours took place in the Supreme Court on Tuesday. A double bench of Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice Prasanna B.

Varale reserved the judgment, directing the state government and the petitioners to file a written reply within three days. The court’s observations seemed to create a favorable atmosphere for the instructors.

During the hearing, the Supreme Court asked tough questions to the state government. The Court said, Only when India learns, will India progress. What is the problem in giving you an honorarium? The state government’s lawyer also agreed with this remark by the Court, which further strengthened the hopes of the instructors.

?7,000 Honorarium Since 2013, Court Deems It Unfair Labor Practice

The Court also made strong remarks against the state government regarding the 7,000 per month honorarium fixed in 2013. The double bench stated that keeping the honorarium fixed for such a long time without any revision falls under the category of unfair labor practice. Part-time teachers are continuously providing services, and thus, they cannot be deprived of respectable remuneration.

The Supreme Court clarified that part-time teachers working in Uttar Pradesh are fully entitled to the revision of the honorarium fixed in 2013. The Court stated that the revision of the honorarium should be done at regular intervals, and if not possible, then at least annually.

The order also stated that from 201718, the honorarium for part-time teachers will be considered 17,000 per month, which will remain effective until the next revision.

Payment from april 1, 2026, order to clear arrears in 6 months

The double bench ordered that the payment of the revised honorarium should commence from April 1, 2026. It was also directed that the entire arrears of part-time teachers must be paid within a period of six months from today, i.e., February 4, 2026.

Honorarium doubled in 2017, not implemented

The honorarium of instructors working in the Basic Education Department of Uttar Pradesh was increased from Rs 8,470 to Rs 17,000 in the year 2017. However, after the change of government, this decision was not implemented. In protest against this, the instructors filed a petition in the Lucknow High Court bench.

The then Justice Rajesh Singh Chauhan of the single bench of Lucknow High Court had ordered to pay the instructors an honorarium of Rs 17,000 with 9 percent interest.

The state government filed an appeal challenging this order. The double bench of the High Court directed the payment of Rs 17,000 honorarium for only one year, after which the matter reached the Supreme Court.

Debate concluded in Supreme Court after 2 years

After an interval of about 2 years, the hearing of this case was completed in the Supreme Court. Senior advocates Sakharam Yadav, PS Patwalia, and Durga Tiwari presented a strong case on behalf of the instructors.

Chief petitioner Ashutosh Shukla, Rakesh Patel, and other petitioners were also present during the hearing. Brijesh Tripathi, legal advisor to the instructors, stated that the Supreme Court’s decision coming in favor of the instructors is a big victory.