The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought response of the Delhi Government on the current vacancies to the posts of Post Graduate Teachers (PGTs) in all government schools in the national capital.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia issued notice on a PIL seeking immediate filling up of 2,714 vacant posts of PGTs in Delhi government schools, alleging that the prolonged vacancies have adversely affected the education of lakhs of students.

The Court sought response of the Delhi Government, its Secretary (Education) as well as the Directorate of Education.

It added that the counter affidavit shall also bring on record the current vacancy positions in the posts of PGTs in all schools.

The Court said that necessary information may be collected at DoE level from all the schools and the response be filed within six weeks.

The plea has been moved by advocate Rakesh Kumar Saini seeking directions to fill all vacant PGT posts on an ad-hoc or temporary basis, under the old or new Recruitment Rules, subject to the outcome of pending litigation concerning the 2022 PGT Recruitment Rules.

According to Saini, the Directorate of Education has failed to make appointments to PGT posts under the 50% promotion quota for around four years, despite the Central Administrative Tribunal having quashed the relevant provision in the amended Recruitment Rules as discriminatory and violative of Article 14 of the Constitution of India.

The petition states that a challenge to the CAT judgment, filed by the Delhi Government and the Director of Education in January 2025, remains pending before the High Court.

The PIL contends that despite the litigation concerning the Recruitment Rules, there was no impediment to filling the vacancies. According to the Saini, the number of vacancies has consequently increased to 2,714.

The PIL estimates that students studying in Classes X, XI and XII in 1,034 Delhi government schools during 2022-2026 may have been affected by the shortage. Saini has alleged gross dereliction of duty and criminal negligence on the part of officials responsible for the education system.

He has also sought initiation of disciplinary or departmental proceedings against responsible officers and compensation for the alleged educational loss suffered by affected students.

The plea therefore seeks directions for immediate filling of all PGT vacancies, initiation of appropriate proceedings against officials allegedly responsible for the delay, and creation of a fund through compensation for providing financial assistance to affected students for higher education.