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Supreme Court slams state government over teacher regularization case
Mumbai, February 23, 2026 - The Supreme Court has strongly reprimanded the state government while hearing a petition seeking regularization of teachers working on hourly basis in government technical colleges in Maharashtra. The court sought a response from the government on the issue that these teachers are getting nominal remuneration despite having to perform full-time duties.
These teachers, who have been appointed on hourly basis in about 42 government technical colleges in the state for three to ten years, are performing the same responsibilities as full-time and regular professors. However, they are paid a nominal remuneration of only Rs 400 to 800 per hour. In contrast, regular professors get a monthly salary of more than Rs 2 lakh and other benefits. The petitioners pointed out in the court that since the appointment letter has a condition of full-time attendance, these teachers cannot work elsewhere, which violates their fundamental right to employment.
A bench of the Nagpur High Court had rejected the petitioners' demand in November. The petitioners then moved the Supreme Court. During the hearing, the court asked tough questions to the state government, pointing to the full-time attendance conditions in the appointment letter. "How can this be done to make them work full-time and pay nominal money?" the court criticized.
This decision has increased the hopes of getting justice among teachers who have been providing full-time service on an hourly basis for three to ten years. Citing a similar case of regularization of part-time teachers in the state of Assam, senior advocates Nikhil Goyal, Adv. Nitin Lonkar, Adv. Sonali Suryavanshi and Adv. Pragya Bheke argued on behalf of the petitioners. The case is still pending and the final verdict is expected soon.
This case has raised questions about the inequality in the education sector and the policy of appointments on the hourly basis in the state. There has been no response from the government yet.
Mumbai, February 23, 2026 - The Supreme Court has strongly reprimanded the state government while hearing a petition seeking regularization of teachers working on hourly basis in government technical colleges in Maharashtra. The court sought a response from the government on the issue that these teachers are getting nominal remuneration despite having to perform full-time duties.
These teachers, who have been appointed on hourly basis in about 42 government technical colleges in the state for three to ten years, are performing the same responsibilities as full-time and regular professors. However, they are paid a nominal remuneration of only Rs 400 to 800 per hour. In contrast, regular professors get a monthly salary of more than Rs 2 lakh and other benefits. The petitioners pointed out in the court that since the appointment letter has a condition of full-time attendance, these teachers cannot work elsewhere, which violates their fundamental right to employment.
A bench of the Nagpur High Court had rejected the petitioners' demand in November. The petitioners then moved the Supreme Court. During the hearing, the court asked tough questions to the state government, pointing to the full-time attendance conditions in the appointment letter. "How can this be done to make them work full-time and pay nominal money?" the court criticized.
This decision has increased the hopes of getting justice among teachers who have been providing full-time service on an hourly basis for three to ten years. Citing a similar case of regularization of part-time teachers in the state of Assam, senior advocates Nikhil Goyal, Adv. Nitin Lonkar, Adv. Sonali Suryavanshi and Adv. Pragya Bheke argued on behalf of the petitioners. The case is still pending and the final verdict is expected soon.
This case has raised questions about the inequality in the education sector and the policy of appointments on the hourly basis in the state. There has been no response from the government yet.
These teachers, who have been appointed on hourly basis in about 42 government technical colleges in the state for three to ten years, are performing the same responsibilities as full-time and regular professors. However, they are paid a nominal remuneration of only Rs 400 to 800 per hour. In contrast, regular professors get a monthly salary of more than Rs 2 lakh and other benefits. The petitioners pointed out in the court that since the appointment letter has a condition of full-time attendance, these teachers cannot work elsewhere, which violates their fundamental right to employment.
A bench of the Nagpur High Court had rejected the petitioners' demand in November. The petitioners then moved the Supreme Court. During the hearing, the court asked tough questions to the state government, pointing to the full-time attendance conditions in the appointment letter. "How can this be done to make them work full-time and pay nominal money?" the court criticized.
This decision has increased the hopes of getting justice among teachers who have been providing full-time service on an hourly basis for three to ten years. Citing a similar case of regularization of part-time teachers in the state of Assam, senior advocates Nikhil Goyal, Adv. Nitin Lonkar, Adv. Sonali Suryavanshi and Adv. Pragya Bheke argued on behalf of the petitioners. The case is still pending and the final verdict is expected soon.
This case has raised questions about the inequality in the education sector and the policy of appointments on the hourly basis in the state. There has been no response from the government yet.
