Expressing concern over the inaction of Maharashtra Government in not filling up vacancies of teachers in primary schools in the tribal areas, Bombay High Court today refused to stay transfers of 700 teachers to the tribal areas of Thane district.
Hearing a public interest litigation, the division bench headed by Chief Justice Mohit Shah also asked Thane Zilla Parishad to take steps to ensure that these teachers join the duty at the earliest, and asked the government to immediately fill up the vacancies.
"Why are you not filling up the vacancies...Is it your policy to keep 10 to 15 per cent posts vacant? It seems no one is applying mind on the issue," said the judges, pulling up the government for not cracking the whip on the teachers who do not join the duty in the tribal areas after the transfer.
The court also asked government to inform what action was taken against the 700 absentee teachers, transferred to tribal areas of Thane district.
The PIL, filed by Nitin Borade and Ramnath Mote, highlights apathy of authorities in posting teachers in tribal areas.
The High Court had issued orders earlier in this regard but they were not being implemented, which amounted to contempt of the court, the PIL said.
