Restructure DIET In Four Months: Gauhati High Court

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: With the State Education Department seemingly not getting its priorities right on the restructuring of the DIET (District Institute of Education and Training) and the SCERT (State Council of Educational Research and Training), the Gauhati High Court has asked it to consider the representation submitted by the All Assam DIET Officers’ Association (AADOA) on the restructuring of DIET along with the SCERT within four months.

The bench of Justice N Kotiswar Singh of the Gauhati High Court delivered this order on the case (WPC 9056/2019) filed by the AADOA.

The petitioner’s grievance is that the department authorities have been neglecting the restructuring of DIET and are found to restructure the SCERT only. The High Court points out that the reorganization process is going on in terms of the Ministry of Human Resource Development’s (MHRD) recommendation for restructuring and strengthening the SCERT as well as the DIET in terms of the report made in 2009 as well the guidelines for implementing such recommendation issued in 2012. However, only the SCERT has been reorganized and restructured by creating additional posts under the 90:10 funding pattern between the Centre and the State government, the bench said, and added: “However, similar restructuring and strengthening process in respect of DIET which had also been recommended by the same report, has not been undertaken.”

The High Court has further said, “…it seems that the authorities had proceeded in restructuring but without making any changes in DIET, while restructuring, reorganization only in respect of SCERT…since the Central funds are routed through the SCERT, there is a possibility that appropriate funds may not be made available for restructuring and strengthening of the DIET in terms of the aforesaid policy framed by the MHRD but made available only for SCERT.”

The High Court is of the view that this matter would require proper application of mind by the authorities as the guidelines contemplate restructuring of DIET also, and not only the SCERT. “…the present petition is disposed of directing the respondent authorities to consider the representation dated 17.01.2018 submitted by the petitioner as expeditiously as possible preferably within a period of four months and at least before finalizing the restructure of SCERT,” the judge said.

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