Prayagraj: Taking serious note of the disbursement of salary to an assistant teacher who was convicted in a murder case and sentenced to life imprisonment but was later released on bail, the Allahabad High Court has directed the district inspector of schools (DIoS), Ballia, to conduct a thorough inquiry and submit a detailed report by Sept 10, the next date of hearing.The court said the inquiry should not be confined to documents furnished by the parties. Instead, the DIoS must independently verify records maintained by the institution, his own office, the office of the joint director of education, the directorate of education, and the courts or other authorities concerned.Hearing a writ petition filed by the Committee of Management of Sri Vyantanand Sanskrit Uchchter Madhyamic Vidyalay and another, Justice Vinod Diwakar observed in his Aug 24 order: “Public money being involved, and the health of the education system of the state being affected, the matter calls for transparent record-keeping and strict compliance with law.”The petition was filed by the management of the Sikandarpur-based institution in Ballia, challenging the March 14, 2026 order of the then DIoS, which permitted single-operation of the salary account for payment of salary to Sudhakar Shukla, an assistant teacher who was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. Shukla was released on bail after serving more than 14 years of his sentence, considering the period already undergone.Counsel for the petitioner-management argued that the bail order neither stayed nor set aside the conviction. Mere release on bail, the counsel submitted, does not erase a conviction or confer an unrestricted right to continue in service where service rules prescribe consequences for conviction. The impugned order, therefore, was illegal and liable to be quashed.The state counsel also contended that the assistant teacher stands convicted and cannot be allowed to resume service unless the conviction is stayed or set aside by a competent court.According to court records, Shukla was the principal accused in Case Crime No. 289 of 2011 under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC and Section 3/25 of the Arms Act, 1959. He was sentenced to life imprisonment on July 15, 2015, in Sessions Trial No. 74 of 2012.He later filed Criminal Appeal No. 4629 of 2015 before the Allahabad High Court, where the matter is still pending.After undergoing 13 years of actual imprisonment and completing 14 years of sentence including remission, Shukla was granted bail by the High Court on July 29, 2024, on account of the period already served.Subsequently, the DIoS sanctioned his salary. The management challenged that decision before the High Court, leading to the present proceedings.
