Srinagar, Nov 18 (KNO): The government Friday announced prohibition on any activity or assignment including the private tuitions by teaching faculty of School Education Department.
The news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) has leant that the Principal Secretary, School Education Department, Alok Kumar has said, “It has been observed that some members of teaching faculty of School Education Department are undertaking coaching assignments in private institutions and coaching centres even during school hours in violation of Rule 10 of the Jammu and Kashmir Government Employees (Conduct) Rules, 1971 as well as Chapter (IV) Section 28 of RTE Act, 2009.”
Kumar in a circular said that the Rule-10 of the Jammu and Kashmir Government Employees (Conduct) Rules, 1971 states, “No Government employee, whether on leave or active service, shall except with the previous sanction of the government engage directly or indirectly in any trade or business or undertake any other employment.”
Provided that a government employee may, without such sanction, undertake honorary work of a social or charitable nature of occasional work of a literary, artistic or scientific character except in organizations or associations with which a Government employee is expressly debarred from associating, subject to the condition that his official duties do not thereby suffer, but he shall not undertake or shall discontinue such work, if so, directed by the government.
Kumar said that it has also been provided in the Chapter (IV) Section 28 in the RTE Act. 2009 - Prohibition of private tuition by teachers that ‘No teacher shall engage himself or herself in private tuition or private teaching activity.’
“In spite of these, it has been observed that some members of teaching faculty of School Education Department are undertaking coaching assignments in private institutions and coaching centres even during school hours in violation of Rule 10 of The Jammu and Kashmir Government Employees (Conduct) Rules, 1971 as well as Chapter (IV) Section 28 of RTE Act, 2009,” reads the circular.
Kumar said that the High Court in one of the cases has also issued directions that reads, “That the department of education (school as well as higher education) is directed to implement Rule 10 of the Employees Conduct Rules in letter and spirit and ensure that no member of its teaching faculty engages in private tuition at private coaching or tuition centres without previous sanction of the government.”
“The Zonal Education Officers at the zonal level and Chief Education Officers at the district level shall be the nodal officers, who will ensure the implementation of Rule 10 of the Employees Conduct Rules and the circular or instructions, if any, issued by the Government to give effect to Rule 10 of the Employees Conduct Rules,” it reads.
According to the School Education Department, the court directions further reads that the government shall do well to create and provide toll free telephone numbers in each District where the complaints against the banned activity of the teaching faculty could be made.
“In supersession of all earlier circulars and instructions issued on matter, it is impressed upon all the teaching faculty of School Education Department of Jammu and Kashmir to strictly adhere to the instructions as provided in Rule 10 of the Jammu and Kashmir Government Employees (Conduct) Rules, 1971 and Chapter (IV) Section 28 of RT Act, 2009 and not to indulge in any private trade or practice or private tuitions,” Kumar ordered.
He further ordered that no teaching faculty shall undertake any activity or assignment including teaching in a private educational institution or coaching centre, unless they obtain prior sanction from the competent authority. “Any violation in this regard shall invite disciplinary action against the delinquent officers or officials as warranted under rules.”
The Principal Secretary further entrusted the responsibility of ensuring that no member of the teaching faculty of the School Education Department violates the circular. The responsibility has been given to Directors of School Education of both Jammu and Kashmir regions, all Chief Education Officers, Zonal Education Officers, Principals of Higher Secondary Schools and Headmasters of all government schools—(KNO)