Issue of pending dues of 20 thousand retired Madrasa and Sanskrit teachers of Bihar heats up again

Patna: (Staff Reporter) The issue of payment of pending dues of nearly 20 thousand retired teachers and non-teaching employees of aided madrasas and Sanskrit schools of Bihar is once again in the headlines. Teacher associations have expressed displeasure against the government over non-payment despite the bills for the amount due after salary revision being passed by the pre-audit cell of the Education Department. Bihar Sanskrit Primary-cum-Secondary Shikshak Sangh and Bihar Madrasa Shikshak Sangh, in a joint press conference, demanded that the government immediately allocate a budget and release the funds for the payment of dues. Officials of the associations said that the pre-audit cell of the Education Department has passed the bills for the salary dues of retired teachers and other employees of madrasas and Sanskrit schools of the state. Certified copies of these bills have also been provided to the Education Department through the District Education Officers, but budget provision has not been made so far in the financial year 2026-27 for the payment of these dues. Consequently, despite the approval of the bills, the entitled employees are waiting for their due amount. They also stated that if the government does not expedite the salary payment, about twenty thousand teachers will launch an agitation and will also gherao the Assembly during the winter session.

It was stated in the press conference that on 24 December 2025, through letter number 296 of the Education Department, approval of 1 crore 69 lakh 93 thousand 84 hundred and 24 rupees was given for the payment of dues to madrasa teachers who retired in the year 2003. However, the associations say that the required amount has not been allocated so far for the payment of dues to other retired teachers and employees.

Citing several decisions of the Patna High Court regarding the payment of dues, teacher associations said that the issue of payment of dues of the fifth revised salary implemented from 1st January 1996 has also been pending for a long time. According to the associations, orders were issued by the court in favour of the teachers in various cases, including LPA No. 1921/2015 and LPA No. 43/2016, but they could not be fully implemented. CWJC No. 17744/2019 and MJC No. 37/2020 were also cited in the press conference. The associations claim that on 14 August 2026, the court had directed the Education Department to pay the pending salary and dearness allowance in the matter concerned; despite this, the payment process was not completed.

The unions demanded cash payment of the accrued leave balances of retired employees under the Bihar Service Conditions Rules 1976. They argue that delays in paying the legal and financial benefits due to employees after retirement constitute injustice. Additionally, they raised the demand for pension-related benefits for retired teachers of the two quotas. Referring to the former Bihar government resolution No. 237 dated 20 February 1990, the unions appealed for a suitable decision in Bihar, following the policy model of the Jharkhand government. At the press conference, the issue of appointments to vacant sanctioned posts in madrasas and Sanskrit schools, which have remained unfilled for years, was also raised. The unions said that the lack of teachers in these institutions is affecting educational activities. Therefore, the ban on direct and indirect appointments to vacant posts should be lifted, so that students’ education is not affected and the teaching system in the institutions can be improved. Union leaders demanded that the government adopt a clear policy on the payment of arrears of retired employees, implementation of court orders, the amount of accrued leave, and pension benefits. They said that after the pre‑audit, the approval of bills has been completed; the real need now is to ensure the provision of the budget and its payment.

At the press conference, the General Secretary of Bihar Sanskrit Primary and Secondary School Shikshak Singh, Syed Mohibul Haq, and the General Secretary of Bihar Madrasa and Sanskrit Shikshak Singh, Shomkanta Jha, were present. Both leaders demanded that the government take immediate action to pay the legitimate financial rights of thousands of retired teachers and employees, instead of making them wait further. At that time, Haji Syed Mohibul Haq, General Secretary, Maulana Aeen Haq Sahib, President, Haji Karim Hussain, Joint Secretary, Muhammad Saheb Rabani Ali, Member of the State Committee, Bihar Madrasa Shikshak Singh Patna, Haji Salimuddin Keshan Ganj Shree Shobha Kant Jha, General Secretary, Sanskrit Madhimak Shikshak Singh Patna, and several other officials, teachers and absent members were present.