HC seeks CBSE response on bus rule

Teachers barred from accompanying students in school vehicles

The Delhi high court on Monday sought the response of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on a plea against its new rule that teachers will not accompany students in school buses or be involved in any other nonacademic work.

A bench of acting chief justice Gita Mittal and justice C Hari Shankar also issued notice to the Delhi Directorate of Education and sought its stand by November 6 on the plea which seeks quashing of the CBSE’s October 2016 circular.

The CBSE, by way of the October 2016 circular, had asked its affiliated schools to ensure that teachers are not engaged in activities other than those related to teaching, professional enhancement, examination and evaluation.

The new rules also said, “The provision shall also be made by the school authorities for travelling of at least one lady attendant/lady guard in each school bus, keeping in view the safety of the school students.”

The October 2016 circular had asked its affiliated schools to ensure that teachers are not engaged in activities other than teaching Challenging the CBSE’s rules, Angika Development Society, set up for promotion of education, and a Delhi resident named Rajesh Srivastava, said the Board does not have “authority to pres c r i b e guidelines/rules/directives regarding the administrative running of schools”. Advocate Arjun Harkauli, appearing for the petitioner, said that the regulation of the management and administration of school education in Delhi, including conditions of service of teachers is covered by the Delhi School Education Act.

“Power to frame rules for the same is with the administrator under the Delhi School Education Act,” the counsel said. He further added that the Delhi government had already formulated detailed directives that teachers and bus monitors should accompany students in school buses hence it is not the domain of the CBSE to issue any directives on this subject as it is merely an examination board. “That despite having no jurisdiction in directing how the school buses should be run. The CBSE had issued a circular on June 8, 2012 and later modified the same with another circular on October 28, 2016,” the petition said.

The petitioner contended that the role of a teacher is not just confined to the classroom but also extends outside to the classroom.