Hold class for students : High Court

By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad, Oct. 31: The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Friday told the state government to make alternative arrangements to conduct classes for students affected by teachers strike. Dealing with a public interest litigation filed against teachers strike, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Anil R. Dave and Justice R. Subhash Reddy asked senior counsel Mr Bojja Tarakam, who appeared on behalf of the teachers: "Can students get back days lost due to teachers strike?"
The court also asked the advocate-general, Mr C.V. Mohan Reddy, what alternative arrangements were made to meet the situation. The court asked Mr Tarakam if teachers had resumed their duties? Mr Tarakam replied in negative and said that if they joined duty, the government would not consider any of their demands. He said that teachers have lost faith in the government as it did not fulfil its earlier promises. He said that if the government wants to take action against teachers, it is free to do so.
The court said that teachers should join duty first and then their demands can be taken care of. Justice Subhash Reddy referred to news reports that 2 crore students across the state were being deprived of classes due to the strike.
The advocate-general submitted that there are 86 lakh students who were affected and that the teachers were striking merely for two increments. He told the court that the government has already extended interim relief to teachers and they had assured that they will not strike for six months.