HC seeks Punjab’s reply on teachers being called masters and mistresses

TERMED DESIGNATION AS NOT “DIGNIFIED” AND HAS ASKED THE SECY TO RESPOND BY JULY 13

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana high court has sought response from the Punjab education secretary calling upon changing designation of teachers of certain categories designated as “master or mistress”.

The high court bench of justice Arun Monga termed the designation as not “dignified” and has asked the secretary to respond by July 13 asking as to what steps can be and/or are proposed to be taken, in for changing the designation.

The court was seized of a recruitment matter in which teachers were referred to as “master or mistresses”. Earlier, in the case of Haryana, high court had in 2018 expressed its displeasure over teachers called as “master or mistress.”

“… why can there not be a more dignified designation viz. a teacher or schoolteacher, who can be further sub-specified as English teacher, mathematics teacher, history teacher and likewise, instead of using the words “master or mistress”, the court has noted while seeking response from education secretary, Punjab.