Guwahati: The state government of 2018 policy prohibiting instructors at government-aided colleges from running for office and holding positions in political parties has been overturned by the Meghalaya High Court.
The High Court invalidated the notification intended to enforce discipline and order among the state’s teachers after observing that teachers at government-aided colleges are not found to possess an office of profit.
In 2018, the Conrad K. Sangma-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government issued an order prohibiting teachers from participating in political activities, citing the need to keep schools and institutions “free from politics.”
Justice HS Thangkhiew said, “The impugned amendments as given in the impugned notification dated 23.03.2021, amending the Aided College Employees Rules, being the product of a flawed decision-making process, are held to be unsustainable, and as such, the impugned notification is set aside and quashed.”
Meghalaya Education Policy, 2018 was created by the state government and in March of last year an order was issued prohibiting teachers at government-aided colleges from participating in political groups and activities.
The state government’s directive was put in place to “instil discipline and order” in the accredited schools and to guarantee a safe atmosphere for the development of the students attending Meghalaya’s public schools.