Court seeks government's reply on teacher crisis

ALLAHABAD: Hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking appointment of teachers in government basic schools in Uttar Pradesh, the Allahabad High Court on Wednesday asked the principal secretary basic education Uttar Pradesh to file reply (counter affidavit) within four weeks in response to the contentions raised in the PIL. The petition alleged that Article 21(a) gives fundamental right to free and compulsory education for children aged 6 to 14 years.But according to the petitioner, this right to children in Uttar Pradesh is being infringed upon because of non-availability of teachers in government primary schools. The order was passed by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Shiva Kirti Singh and Justice Vikram Nath on a PIL filed by M/S Right Organization of Varanasi.