Denial of pension to primary teachers of Sanskrit institutions

The Allahabad High Court has held that denial of pension to primary teachers of recognised Sanskrit institutions is not only discriminatory but also a discouragement to the learning of the language.

Justice Surya Prakash Kesharwani said it was also a grave threat to the "embodiment of Indian culture, civilisation and binding force" and" cultural, philosophical, artistic and scientific heritage and cultural unity of India".

The court made the observation while allowing a writ petition filed by Markanday Mani, a retired assistant teacher of district Deoria.

It held that denial of pension and other retiral benefits to an assistant teacher attached to a recognised Sanskrit institution is violative of Article 14 of the Constitution.
 

"There is no rational basis for discriminating primary section teachers of Sanskrit institutions as against primary section teachers of other institutions," it said.

The petitioner moved to the court challenging an order of December 12, 2012 by the joint director of education, Gorakhpur region refusing to give pension to Mani.

The petitioner's claim was that primary section teachers attached to high schools and intermediate colleges are being paid retiral benefits but he was wrongly denied.