Govt School Teachers Challenge App-Based Attendance System, MP High Court Directs State To Verify Training And Infrastructure Claims

Government school teachers in Madhya Pradesh challenged the state’s rollout of an app-based attendance system ('Humare Shikshak' app), contending inadequate training, infrastructure shortfalls and procedural unfairness in linking attendance to administrative or disciplinary consequences. The Madhya Pradesh High Court directed the State to verify the training provided to teachers, the availability of required infrastructure (smartphones, network connectivity) and whether pilot testing and stakeholder consultation had been undertaken before compulsory implementation. The Court’s approach reflected administrative law principles: technology deployment affecting public servants must be underpinned by reasonable measures, transparency and safeguards to prevent arbitrary penalisation. The State was asked to file an affidavit detailing training, infrastructure and remedial steps; the order preserves teachers’ rights pending verification and seeks an equitable implementation framework.