Ram Narayan and 33 Others Vs State of U.P. and 3… — Writ and Judicial Review | Allahabad HC (2025)

Ram Narayan and 33 Others Vs State of U.P. and 3… — Writ and Judicial Review | Allahabad HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Neither prayed-for mandamus (payment of Head Master salary nor arrears) granted; writ petition disposed of on the footing that the cause of action no longer survives, with liberty reserved to agitate the grievance before the appropriate forum in accordance with law.

Issue for consideration

Whether the petitioners, working on the post of In-charge Head Master of their respective Primary/Upper Primary Schools, are entitled to a mandamus directing the District Basic Education Officer, Siddharthnagar to pay them the salary of Head Master as and when it falls due. +1 more

Ratio / Principle

Taking into account the Government Order dated 14.10.2025 produced by the respondents — by which the issue of In-charge Headmaster has been considered with conditions, in compliance with the order dated 30.04.2025 in Special Appeal No. 652/2024 that stands final after dismissal of SLP No. 022472/2025 on 13.08.2025 — the cause of action for which the present writ petition was filed no longer survives.

Key takeaways

The writ petition is accordingly disposed of and consigned to record; no mandamus for payment of Head Master salary or arrears is issued by this Court.ratio¶49
The petitioner is at liberty to agitate his grievance before the appropriate forum in accordance with law, if so advised.obiter¶50

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

High Court of Judicature at Allahabad (Praveen Kumar Giri, J.), Writ-A No. 15437 of 2025 — Ram Narayan & 33 Ors. v. State of U.P. & 3 Ors. Petitioners working as In-charge Head Masters of their respective Primary/Upper Primary Schools sought mandamus under Article 226 directing the District Basic Education Officer, Siddharthnagar to pay them Head Master salary and arrears from the date of taking over charge. During hearing the respondents produced Government Order dated 14.10.2025 (Basic Shiksha Anubhag-5), issued pursuant to the final order dated 30.04.2025 in Special Appeal No. 652/2024 (Secretary, Basic Shiksha Parishad v. Tripurari Dube) — the Supreme Court having dismissed SLP No. 022472/2025 thereagainst on 13.08.2025 — prescribing seniority-list based appointment of In-charge Head Masters with undertakings, restriction of officiating charge to senior assistant teachers, and seniormost-teacher supervision per norms under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 without extra remuneration pending regular promotion, and confining such arrears (per the quoted order) to three years prior to the writ. Holding that in light thereof the cause of action no longer survives, the Court disposed of the writ petition and left the petitioners at liberty to agitate their grievance before the appropriate forum in accordance with law.

HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD

WRIT - A No. - 15437 of 2025

Ram Narayan And 33 Others

.....Petitioner(s)

Versus

State Of U.P. And 3 Others

Counsel for Petitioner(s)	: Seemant Singh .....Respondent(s)
Counsel for Respondent(s)	: Ashok Kumar Singh, C.S.C.

Court No. - 35

HON'BLE PRAVEEN KUMAR GIRI, J.

Heard Sri Seemant Singh, learned counsel for the petitioners, Sri Arun Kumar Tripathi, learned counsel for respondent Basic Education Board/Officer and Sri Sharad Chandra Upadhyay, learned Standing Counsel for the respondent State.

This writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of Indian has been filed with the following prayers :

"i. Issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of mandamus directing the District Basic Education Officer, Siddharthnagar to pay the salary of Head Master to the petitioners while working on the post of In-charge Head Master of their respective Primary School/Upper Primary School as and when it fell due to the petitioners.

ii. Issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of mandamus directing the respondents to also pay the arrears of the salary of the Head Master on account of having worked as In-charge Head Master of their respective Primary School/Upper Primary School from the date of taking over the charge of the Head Master of their schools."

Learned Counsel for the respondent has provided a Government Order dated 14.10.2025 by which the issue regarding In-charge Headmaster has been considered with certain conditions. The conditions have been mentioned in the Government Order. The Government Order dated 14.10.2025 is delineated below :

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" शीषर् प्राथिमकता

प्रेषक ,

पाथर् सारथी सेन शमार् , अपर मुख्य सिचव , उत्तर प्रदेश शासन। सेवा में , समस्त िजला बेिसक िशक्षा अिधकारी ,

उत्तर प्रदेश।

बेिसक िशक्षा अनुभाग -5 लखनऊ : िदनांक 14 अक्टूबर , 2025

िवषय : मा० , इलाहाबाद -652/2024 उच्च न्यायालय में योिजत िवशेष अपील संख्या सिचव बेिसक िशक्षा ब -30-04-2025 पिरषद व अन्य बनाम ित्रपुरारी द एवं अन्य में पािरत आदेश िदनांक के समबन्ध में।

महोदय ,

उपयुर्क्त िवषयक मा० उच्च न्यायालय , इलाहाबाद में योिजत िवशेष अपील संख्या 652/2024 सिचव , बेिसक िशक्षा पिरषद व अन्य बनाम ित्रपुरारी दुबे व अन्य में पािरत आदेश िदनांक 30.04.2025 का मुख्य अंश िनम्नवत् है :-

".......19. We find substance in the contention of Sri K. Shahi that the direction to pay arrears could not have been issued in a mechanical manner particularly when no grievance was raised by such persons earlier. Though it is stated that previous representations were made by the writ petitioners but such grievance apparently was not pressed till filing of the writ we are thus of the view that even if the petitioners have continued for long as headmaster the direction to pay the arrears could only extend up to three years prior to filing of the writ petition.

20. In view of the discussions and deliberations held above this bunch of special appeal stands disposed of with following observation: (i) we grant liberty to the concerned District Basic Education Officer to examine and determine the factual issue as to whether the petitioner has experience of five years and has actually been continuing as headmaster of the institution; (ii) if the petitioners have continued for long as headmaster the direction to pay the arrears would only extend up to three years prior to filing of the writ petition; (iii) we also make it open for the District Basic Education Officer to ensure at the district level that only senior assistant teachers are allowed to officiate in the educational institution, as far as, it is possible. This would eliminate possibility of heart burning on account of junior assistant teachers functioning as officiating headmaster; (iv) requisite exercise in this regard shall be undertaken within a period of two months and the amount in term of above determination shall be calculated and released without any further loss of time."

2- मा० उच्च न्यायालय , इलाहाबाद द्वारा पािरत उक्त आदेश िदनांक 30.04.2025 के िवरुद्ध मा० उच्चतम न्यायालय ,

नई िदल्ली में िवशेष अनुज्ञा यािचका संख्या 022472/2025 उ०प्र० राज्य व चार अन्य बनाम ित्रपुरारी दुबे व अन्य योिजत की गयी , िजसमें पािरत आदेश िदनांक 13.08.2025 िनम्नवत् हैः -

"We find no good ground and reason to interfere with the impugned judgment/order passed by the High Court.

The special leave petition is, accordingly, dismissed. Pending application(s), if any, shall stand disposed of."

3- उल्लेखनीय है िक मा० उच्च न्यायालय , इलाहाबाद में योिजत िवशेष अपील संख्या -652/2024 सिचव , बेिसक

WRIA No. 15437 of 2025

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िशक्षा पिरषद व अन्य बनाम ित्रपुरारी दुबे व अन्य में पािरत आदेश िदनांक 30.04.2025 के िवरुद्ध मा० उच्चतम न्यायालय में योिजत िवशेष अनुज्ञा यािचका संख्या 022472/2025 उ०प्र० राज्य व 04 अन्य बनाम ित्रपुरारी दुबे व अन्य योिजत की गयी , जो आदेश िदनांक 13.08.2025 द्वारा खािरज कर दी गयी है। इस प्रकार मा० उच्चतम न्यायालय से कोई अनुतोष प्राप्त न होने के कारण मा० उच्च न्यायालय में योिजत िवशेष अपील संख्या 652/2024 सिचव बेिसक िशक्षा पिरषद व अन्य बनाम ित्रपुरारी दुबे व अन्य में पािरत आदेश िदनांक 30.04.2025 अिन्तम हो चुका है और उसका अनुपालन िकया जाना िविधक रूप से बाध्यकारी है।

4- मा० उच्च न्यायालय , इलाहाबाद द्वारा पािरत आदेश िदनांक 30.04.2025 के अनुपालन में ऐसे समस्त याचीगण , जो िवशेष अपील संख्या 652/2024 सिचव , बेिसक िशक्षा पिरषद व अन्य बनाम ित्रपुरारी दुबे व अन्य में पक्षकार हैं , को ही वेतन देय होगा।

5- िनःशुल्क और अिनवायर् बाल िशक्षा का अिधकार अिधिनयम , 2009 के अन्तगर्त िवद्यालय के िलए िनधार्िरत मानक के अनुसार पहली कक्षा से पांचवी कक्षा के िलए 150 से कम छात्रों पर तथा छठी कक्षा से आठवीं कक्षा के िलए जहां 100 से कम छात्र हैं वहां पर जब तक िनयमानुसार प्रोन्नित की कायर्वाही पूणर् नहीं हो जाती है तब तक उसी िवद्यालय के विरष्ठतम अध्यापक को िवद्यालय के पयर्वेक्षणीय दाियत्वों का िनवहर्न के िलये अिधकृत िकया जाय। यिद िकन्हीं अपिरहायर् कारणों से विरष्ठतम अध्यापक िवद्यालय के पयर्वेक्षणीय दाियत्वों का िनवर्हन करने में अक्षम है तो उससे ठीक किनष्ठ अध्यापक को यह दाियत्व िदया जायेगा , िकन्तु इसके िलये कोई अितिरक्त पािरश्रिमक देय नहीं होगा।

6- उक्त के अितिरक्त वे िवद्यालय िजनमें प्रधानाचायर् का पद िरक्त है उन पर प्रभारी प्रधानाध्यापक तैनात करने हेतु सम्बिन्धत िजला बेिसक िशक्षा अिधकारी िवशेष अपील संख्या 652/2024 में पािरत आदेश िदनांक 30.04.2025 के आलोक में अपने जनपद के सहायक अध्यापकों की ज्येष्ठता सूची तैयार करेंगे एवं उसी ज्येष्ठता के आधार पर उनको प्रभारी प्रधानाध्यापक के पद पर तैनात िकया जायेगा , जब तक िक उक्त िवद्यालय में िनयिमत प्रधानाध्यापक की तैनाती न हो जाय। यिद उक्त विरष्ठ सहायक अध्यापक द्वारा अपनी िलिखत सहमित (Undertaking) दी जाती है िक वे प्रभारी प्रधानाध्यापक बनने के िलए सहमत नहीं हैं , तो उनके ठीक किनष्ठ सहायक अध्यापक को प्रभारी प्रधानाध्यापक का प्रभार दे िदया जायेगा।

7- अतः इस सम्बन्ध में मुझे यह कहने का िनदेश हुआ है िक मा० उच्च न्यायालय में योिजत िवशेष अपील संख्या 652/2024 सिचव बेिसक िशक्षा पिरषद व अन्य बनाम ित्रपुरारी दुबे व अन्य में पािरत आदेश िदनांक 30.04.2025 के अनुपालन हेतु उपयुर्क्तानुसार कारर्वाई सुिनिश्चत कराते हुए कृत कायर्वाही से शासन को एक सप्ताह में अवगत कराना सुिनिश्चत करें।

पृ०सं० व िदनांक तदैव।

प्रितिलिप िनम्निलिखत को सूचनाथर् एवं आवश्यक कायर्वाही हेतु प्रेिषत :-

1- महािनदेशक , स्कूल िशक्षा , उ०प्र० , लखनऊ।

2- िनदेशक , बेिसक िशक्षा , उ०प्र० , लखनऊ।

3- सिचव , बेिसक िशक्षा पिरषद , उ०प्र० , प्रयागराज।

4- िवत्त िनयंत्रक , बेिसक िशक्षा पिरषद , उ०प्र० , प्रयागराज।

5- अनुभागीय आदेश पुिस्तका।

In light of the above, the cause of action for which the present writ petition has been filed no more survives.

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Accordingly, the writ petition is disposed of and is consigned to record.

The petitioner is at liberty to agitate his grievance before the appropriate forum in accordance with law, if so advised.

(Praveen Kumar Giri,J.)

October 15, 2025

K.K. Maurya

Digitally signed by :- KAMLESH KUMAR MAURYA High Court of Judicature at Allahabad

Procedural history

How this case reached the court

AI extract

Prior proceeding
Special Appeal No. 652/2024 (Secretary, Basic Shiksha Parishad & Ors. v. Tripurari Dube & Ors.), High Court of Judicature at Allahabad: bunch of special appeals disposed of by order dated 30.04.2025 with observations including that arrears payable to long-continuing headmasters extend only up to three years prior to filing of the writ petition, liberty to the District Basic Education Officer to determine five-year experience/actual continuance, preference for senior assistant teachers to officiate, and completion of the exercise within two months; the operative extract is reproduced verbatim within the Government Order dated 14.10.2025 quoted in this judgment.¶26
Prior proceeding
Special Leave Petition No. 022472/2025 (U.P. State & four others v. Tripurari Dube & Ors.), Supreme Court of India, challenging the High Court order dated 30.04.2025: dismissed by order dated 13.08.2025, leaving the High Court order undisturbed; recorded in the Government Order dated 14.10.2025 quoted in this judgment.¶30
Prior proceeding
Government Order dated 14.10.2025 (Basic Shiksha Anubhag-5, Lucknow), produced by the respondents' counsel during the hearing: issued in compliance with the order dated 30.04.2025 in Special Appeal No. 652/2024 and setting out conditions governing In-charge Head Masters, including preparation of seniority lists of assistant teachers, appointment of Prabhari Pradhanadhyapak on that basis until regular appointment, undertakings by seniors declining charge, and seniormost-teacher supervision per norms under the RTE Act 2009 without extra remuneration pending regular promotion.¶14
Prior proceeding
Present writ petition instituted under Article 226 of the Constitution with prayers for mandamus directing the District Basic Education Officer, Siddharthnagar to pay Head Master salary to the petitioners working as In-charge Head Masters and to pay arrears from the date of taking over charge.¶11