Supreme Court issues stern warning to states over non-compliance in Special Educator appointments
New Delhi (01/03/2025): The Supreme Court of India has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the lack of progress by various State and Union Territory governments in implementing its directives regarding the appointment of special educators.
This order was initially passed on October 28, 2021, and further emphasized on July 21, 2022. In a recent hearing, the Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and K.Vinod Chandran, highlighted the “very sad state of affairs” regarding the compliance of these orders.
The court pointed out that despite clear directives, many states have failed to sanction the necessary teaching positions, a fundamental step in improving educational support for the Children with Special Needs. The Court has ordered immediate action, requiring state counsels to provide concrete evidence of steps taken towards compliance by the next hearing scheduled for March 4, 2025.
Failure to comply may result in further action from the Court. This stern message underscores the Supreme Court’s commitment to ensuring that educational standards and support systems are effectively implemented across India, reinforcing the rights and needs of differently abled students. In response to the Supreme Court’ Judgment, Ayusman Choudhury, Joint Secretary of the Odisha Special Educator Federation for Divyang has demanded and requested the government of Odisha to expedite the recruitment of special educators in every general schools.
This move is anticipated to benefit more than 7,000 special educator aspirants and 1.4 lakh Children with Special Needs (CwSN) in the state.
Advocate Sristhi Agnihotri is representing the case on behalf of the petitioners of Odisha.
