New Delhi/Raipur, May 23, 2026:
In a significant development aimed at strengthening inclusive education for children with disabilities, the Supreme Court of India has directed the Chhattisgarh government to expedite the recruitment of special educators and complete the process within two months.
The directions were issued in the matter titled Rajneesh Kumar Pandey & Others vs Union of India & Others, a case concerning the severe shortage of qualified special teachers for children with special needs in the state.
The Supreme Court expressed serious concern over the current condition of educational support available to children with disabilities and emphasized the urgent need for a robust and inclusive education system.
Petitioners Represented by Senior Legal Team
Appearing on behalf of the petitioners, Advocate-on-Record Kaustubh Shukla and Advocate Palash Tiwari presented extensive arguments before the apex court.
Kaustubh Shukla also filed an intervention application on behalf of the Chhattisgarh RCI Teacher Association in the pending matter, in which the State of Chhattisgarh is a party.
State Admits Large Number of Vacancies
During the hearing, the Chhattisgarh government informed the court through an affidavit that a total of 848 posts for special educators have been sanctioned in the state.
According to the affidavit:
- Recruitment advertisements for 100 posts were issued on October 3, 2025.
- Out of these, 62 teachers possessing qualifications prescribed by the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) have already been appointed.
- The remaining 38 posts are still vacant due to issues related to Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) requirements.
The petitioners further informed the court that:
- 155 Block Resource Persons are currently working on a contractual basis at the primary level.
- 85 special educators are serving at the secondary level on fixed honorariums.
Supreme Court Orders Screening and Fresh Consideration
Taking note of the situation, the Supreme Court directed the state government to allow all 155 Block Resource Persons and 85 special educators to appear before a screening committee along with their academic and professional credentials.
The court stated that if these candidates fulfill the qualifications and eligibility standards prescribed by the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI), their appointments must be considered in accordance with the law.
The bench further instructed the state government to complete the appointment process of eligible candidates โas far as possibleโ within two months and submit a compliance report before the court in July 2026.
Court Highlights Serious Shortage of Special Educators
In a crucial observation, the Supreme Court recorded that Chhattisgarh currently has more than 49,000 children with special needs, while the state requires nearly 3,981 special educators to adequately support inclusive education.
The court underscored that access to quality education for children with disabilities is a constitutional and statutory obligation, and governments must ensure adequate staffing and infrastructure for inclusive classrooms.
A Major Push for Inclusive Education
The order is being viewed as a major judicial intervention in favor of children with disabilities and trained special educators across Chhattisgarh. Education activists and disability rights advocates believe the ruling could significantly improve access to specialized learning support in government schools.
The case also highlights the growing demand for professionally trained RCI-certified educators in Indiaโs inclusive education framework, especially in states facing severe staffing shortages.
The next compliance review in the matter is expected in July 2026.
