Uttar Pradesh Government Ordered to Verify Assistant Teacher Appointments Amid 'Disturbing' Trend of Forged Certificates

Taking serious note of a “disturbing" trend of assistant teachers securing jobs in Uttar Pradesh using forged certificates, the Allahabad High Court has ordered the state government to carry out a comprehensive, statewide verification of all such appointments. The court has directed the principal secretary (basic education) to complete the exercise preferably within six months. It has also ordered that illegal appointments be cancelled, salaries paid to such ‘fake’ appointees be recovered, and stringent action be taken against officials found to have colluded in or ignored the fraud. The directions came while dismissing a writ petition filed by Garima Singh, whose appointment as an assistant teacher was cancelled after it was found to be based on forged documents. Justice Manju Rani Chauhan observed that despite repeated circulars and instructions issued by the state government, authorities tasked with maintaining the integrity of the education system had failed to act in a timely and effective manner. “The inaction on the part of the authorities not only perpetuates fraud but also strikes at the very root of the education system, causing grave prejudice to the interest of students, which is of paramount and overriding consideration for this court," Justice Chauhan said in the judgment dated January 22. The petitioner had challenged an order passed by the district basic education officer, Deoria, cancelling her appointment. The officer had found that she had forged her educational certificates and domicile documents to secure the job. ALSO READ: UGC NET December 2025 Result: NET-JRF Scorecards By Feb 4 At ugcnet.nta.nic.in Singh was appointed as an assistant teacher in July 2010 after her documents were verified at the time of joining and continued in service for nearly 15 years without any complaint. However, during proceedings, the state informed the court that when employment is obtained through fraud or suppression of facts, the beneficiary cannot seek the protection of disciplinary inquiry under the Uttar Pradesh Government Servant (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1999. The court also directed the state to initiate strict disciplinary and penal action against officials who were found to have colluded with, aided, or deliberately overlooked such fraudulent appointments. (With inputs from PTI)