The Odisha government’s notification permitting retired individuals to work as guest lecturers and teachers in educational institutions has been put on hold till the next hearing by the Orissa High Court. While considering a number of petitions contesting the state government’s choice to hire retired instructors and lecturers without a formal hiring procedure, a division bench led by Justice R K Patnaik issued the interim judgment. The petitioners said that the action violated University Grants Commission (UGC) rules, National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) regulations, and Supreme Court orders, depriving qualified unemployed youngsters of employment possibilities.
Additionally, they claimed that several of the retired individuals hired as guest instructors lacked the necessary educational credentials. Pushpalata Majhi and others filed the cases in 2025 and 2026, contesting the participation of retired instructors and lecturers in a number of government-funded educational institutions. The state administration was instructed to submit its response by the court, which also scheduled a follow-up hearing for October 12. The Higher Education Department’s initiative to hire retired individuals as guest professors in 488 and 662 private-aided and Sanskrit colleges brought the issue to light.
Instead of hiring retired people to give guest lectures, the petitioners have looked to the State Selection Board to find qualified applicants. Pushpalata Majhi, the petitioner, was represented by attorney Saubhagya Swain.
