Taking suo motu cognisance of media reports about shortage of teachers across schools in Maharashtra, the Bombay High Court today sought the state government's response in this regard.
A division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice M S Sanklecha took notice of reports regarding 18,000 students studying in aided schools across the state with no teachers.
Since the ban in 2012 on recruitment of new teachers, schools are grappling with a shortage. Mumbai with 792 aided schools is short of 630 teachers.
Although the ban on recruitment of teachers for subjects like English, maths and science was lifted in May this year, the government is yet to approve new appointments to vacant posts.
According to the reports, in some schools the shortage of teachers is so severe that parents are volunteering to teach.
The high court today directed Advocate General Darius Khambata to take instructions from the government on the issue and posted the matter for further hearing on August 19.
