Meghalaya rolls out centralised PF for 30,000 teachers
Shillong (PTI): The Meghalaya government has rolled out a centralised provident fund scheme aimed at extending pension and social security benefits to more than 30,000 employees of non-government schools and colleges, officials said on Monday.
The "Meghalaya Non-Government School and College Employees Centralised Provident Fund Scheme, 2026" seeks to bring a wide range of employees, which includes deficit teachers and lecturers, adhoc teachers, SSA and RMSA teachers, Hindi and Science Grant teachers, pre-primary teachers, and non-teaching staff, all under a unified and professionally managed framework, they said.
"The scheme represents a significant and progressive reform as it extends structured provident fund and pension benefits to a wide spectrum of employees in the education sector," the Education department said in a press note.
"By bringing all such categories under a single framework, the scheme aims to promote equity, transparency and sustainability," it added.
Officials said a large number of employees have responded positively to the initiative, and the process of opening Permanent Retirement Account Numbers (PRANs) has already commenced in several parts of the state.
"It is encouraging to note that many employees have come forward to enrol under the scheme, and the PRAN generation process is underway in multiple districts," the statement said.
However, concerns have been raised by certain sections of employees, particularly from deficit institutions, over aspects of the scheme. The matter is currently sub judice before the High Court of Meghalaya, officials said.
"The government has already placed the notified scheme before the Hon'ble High Court and is awaiting its decision," the department said.
Reiterating its commitment to addressing concerns, the government said it has invited representatives of the concerned organisations for discussions.
"The Education Department has called a meeting with representatives of stakeholders on May 6 at 3 pm in the Main Conference Hall, Secretariat, to better understand their issues and explore possible resolutions," the statement said.
"The government remains committed to safeguarding the interests and welfare of all teachers and employees, and to ensuring that the implementation of the scheme is carried out in a fair, transparent and inclusive manner," it added.
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BCI urges CJI to take action against Andhra HC judge for sending young lawyer to 24-hour custody
New Delhi (PTI): The Bar Council of India on Wednesday sought the urgent intervention of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant following a "deeply disturbing" incident where a judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court reportedly sent a young advocate to
24-hour judicial custody over a procedural lapse.
The Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairperson and senior advocate Manan Kumar Mishra, in a formal representation, termed the conduct of Justice Tarlada Rajasekhar Rao "grossly inappropriate" and "damaging to the confidence of the Bar".
“I most respectfully request your Lordship to kindly take immediate institutional cognizance of the matter and call for the video recording of the proceedings, the order passed, and the surrounding circumstances.
“I further request that appropriate administrative action may kindly be considered, including withdrawal of judicial work from the learned Judge pending review, his immediate transfer to some far off High Court, and his nomination for appropriate judicial training/orientation on court management, judicial temperament, Bar-Bench relations, and proportional exercise of contempt/judicial authority,” Mishra wrote.
This representation is made to preserve the “dignity, moral authority and public confidence of the judiciary”, he said, adding, “Judges command the highest respect not by fear, but by fairness, patience, restraint and constitutional humility”.
The communication urged the CJI to intervene at the earliest to ensure that the faith of Bar, particularly young advocates, in the protective and corrective role of the judiciary is restored.
The controversy stems from proceedings on May 5.
According to the BCI, a video circulating online shows Justice Rao rebuking a young advocate who was unable to produce a specific order copy during a hearing.
The letter said that despite the advocate "repeatedly seeking pardon and mercy" and claiming he was in physical pain, the judge remained "unmoved".
The judge allegedly told the lawyer, "now you will learn," and mocked his experience before directing the Registrar and police personnel to take him into custody for 24 hours.
The BCI chairperson said that the judge’s actions lacked proportionality and fairness.
"The dignity of the court is not enhanced when a lawyer is made to beg for grace in open court and is still sent to custody for a procedural lapse," the letter said.
"A young lawyer... is an officer of the Court, still learning, still growing, and entitled to correction without humiliation," it added.
The bar body said that such actions create a "chilling effect" on the legal fraternity, particularly among junior members, and undermine the mutual respect required between the Bench and the Bar.
