HC pulls up KVs: Why no educators for disabled children

“Are you following guidelines? Where are your special educators? Your report states no recruitment has taken place till date,” a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice A P Shah and Justice S Muralidhar said as the counsel for the KVS presented his report.

The court further demanded to know whether the Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) had teachers conversant with the sign language,to which the counsel replied in the negative.

“You (the KVs) must create posts for special teachers in your schools across the country,” the Bench ordered.

The KV counsel then tried to pacify the court,saying the process of appointing special educators had already begun and they would be recruited “as soon as” the board of governors took a decision.

“What do you mean by ‘as soon as the board takes a decision’? We cannot wait indefinitely for them to start appointing teachers,” the Bench noted.

Delhi government counsel Meera Bhatia informed the court that courses were being drafted for children with special needs and the government was also considering regularising a large number of temporary teachers. “You (the government and the KVs) must create posts. Do your work and then you can approach the Central government for funds,” the Bench observed.

Ashok Agarwal,counsel for Social Jurist — a civil rights group and the petitioner in the case — then told the court that the very same situation prevailed in the state-run Navodaya Vidyalayas,with multiple schools running across the country.