Cuttack, 11th Sept 2025: A case has been filed in the High Court challenging the recruitment of untrained/ineligible candidates as Child Care Assistants (Shishu Sebikas) in Shishu Batika (pre-primary classes), recently introduced in government primary schools across the state. The court has taken the matter seriously.
The case challenges the notifications issued by the School and Mass Education Department dated June 30 and August 8, 2025, regarding the opening of Shishu Batika classes and the recruitment process for Shishu Sebikas. The High Court has accepted the petition for hearing and issued notices in this regard. Both the Central and State Governments have been directed to submit their responses within two weeks.
A bench comprising Justice Deekshitha Krishna Sripad heard the petition filed by Dibyalochan Mohanty and 18 others and issued the directions. The next hearing of the case is scheduled for September 25.
Details of the Case:
Following the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the state opened Shishu Batika classes for children below 6 years of age based on a June 30, 2025 notification from the School and Mass Education Department. Later, on August 20, 2025, a notification was issued regarding the recruitment of Shishu Sebikas for these classes.
The petition alleges that instead of appointing trained professionals in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), the government is recruiting untrained and even non-matriculate candidates as Shishu Sebikas. This is being seen as a violation of the NEP 2020, which emphasizes quality care and foundational education during early childhood.
It is also alleged that reserved category candidates were given undue priority in the recruitment process while other categories were overlooked, thereby violating the reservation policy.
As such, the petition requests the High Court to:
Cancel the current recruitment notification issued by the School and Mass Education Department
Ensure that only ECCE-trained candidates with relevant degrees are appointed as Shishu Sebikas
The case is being argued by advocate Akshaya Kumar Pandey on behalf of the petitioners.