Allahabad High Court Directs Uttar Pradesh Government to Implement Electronic Attendance System for Teachers

Court Emphasizes Importance of Teacher Presence to Uphold Right to Education in Rural Areas

In a significant ruling, the Allahabad High Court has instructed the Uttar Pradesh Government to develop a practical, technology-driven system to ensure the attendance of teachers in educational institutions, particularly in rural areas. This directive aims to uphold the Right to Education for children, as guaranteed under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, and Articles 21, 21A, and 14 of the Indian Constitution.

The judgment was delivered by Justice Praveen Kumar Giri in the case of Indra Devi v. State Of U.P. The court highlighted the absence of a reliable mechanism for monitoring teacher attendance, which has persisted since India's independence. The lack of such a system was seen as a significant barrier to providing quality education to children in rural areas.

In response to the court's directive, a meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh is currently underway to formulate a policy that utilizes electronic and virtual means to record teacher attendance. The court suggested that the government consider a lenient approach towards first-time defaulters, provided they undertake to comply with attendance regulations in the future.

The petitioner, Indra Devi, has given an undertaking to adhere to the new electronic attendance protocols, promising to upload her attendance at the prescribed time in future. The court indicated that it might take a lenient view on the petitioner's case if such undertakings are honored, potentially quashing any penal orders against her due to this being a first-time infraction.

The court has scheduled the next hearing for November 10, 2025, to review the State Government's progress in implementing this directive. This judgment underscores the judiciary's commitment to ensuring that educational rights are not merely theoretical but are actively enforced and protected, especially for children in less accessible regions.

Bottom Line:

Teachers' attendance in educational institutions is vital to uphold the Right to Education for children, particularly in rural areas. The State Government is directed to develop a practical mechanism for monitoring teacher attendance using virtual/electronic means.

Statutory provision(s): Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, Articles 21, 21A, and 14 of the Constitution of India.

Indra Devi v. State Of U.P., (Allahabad) : Law Finder Doc Id # 2802838