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Cuttack: The Orissa high court has directed the chief secretary and the commissioner-cum-secretary of the chancellor of universities to file sworn affidavits detailing the concrete steps being taken to address the acute shortage of teachers in schools and higher education institutes.Currently, over 13,377 teaching positions are lying vacant in the state.The directive came from Justice Dixit Krishna Shripad, who on Oct 13 was hearing a petition challenging the state’s decision to appoint 6,387 retired teachers as guest teachers in govt-aided, newly aided (block grant) high schools and Sanskrit schools for the 2025–26 academic session.In compliance with the court’s earlier order, dated Sept 23, the state submitted two letters — one from the director of secondary education (dated Oct 10) and another from the joint secretary, higher education department (dated Oct 13) — listing the current vacancy status.However, the court said the information submitted was ‘inadequate to pass any positive order’, and directed that the chief secretary and the commissioner-cum-secretary of the chancellor of universities be named as parties in the case.“The affidavits must clearly state what steps have been taken to fill these vacancies, which run into thousands,” Justice Shripad said, adding that “failure to comply may invite stringent action in addition to bitter criticism.”
The matter will be heard next on Nov 10.The petition was filed by Arpita Priyadarshini and three other unemployed candidates who questioned the Aug 1, 2025 notification allowing engagement of retired teachers as guest faculty. The petitioners, all of whom have passed the Odisha Secondary School Teacher Eligibility Test and hold B.Ed. degrees, alleged that the move was discriminatory and deprived qualified youngsters of job opportunities.The state, in its reply, defended the decision as a stop-gap measure to prevent disruption in classroom teaching while regular recruitment was underway.
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