DSE Assam Under Fire: 125 Contempt Cases Pending

June 23, 2025: The Directorate of Secondary Education (DSE) in Assam is facing intense public scrutiny and legal pressure, with as many as 125 contempt cases pending against it in the Gauhati High Court. This revelation has raised serious questions about the department’s credibility, governance, and transparency, particularly under its current leadership.

The DSE, which is entrusted with overseeing the education of lakhs of secondary-level students in the state, has come under fire for its alleged refusal to comply with multiple court orders. The alarming number of contempt cases suggests a pattern of administrative defiance and neglect, especially troubling given the judiciary’s repeated admonitions.

Sources reveal that these legal challenges have mounted during the tenure of the current director, who has been heading the department for the past five to six years. During this time, several secondary-level teachers have reportedly faced victimisation, not due to personal misconduct, but because of bureaucratic delays, negligence, and alleged malpractice within the Directorate.

Observers argue that this has led to a near-collapse of administrative integrity in one of the state’s most crucial education departments. “This kind of disregard for legal and ethical responsibilities is unprecedented,” said a senior educationist, requesting anonymity. “It damages not just the teachers’ morale but also the educational outcomes for thousands of students.”

Despite repeated reprimands from the High Court, the Directorate has allegedly failed to implement systemic reforms or take corrective steps. In fact, new allegations have emerged against top officials, including claims of extracting undue benefits in exchange for resolving teacher grievances and intentionally delaying regularisation of pay scales for qualified B.Ed. teachers without informing Dispur.

Education stakeholders warn that such developments may lead to an erosion of public trust in government schools, at a time when the Assam government is working to elevate the quality and credibility of its education system.

With these issues now firmly in the public and judicial spotlight, pressure is mounting on Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to intervene and initiate drastic corrective measures to prevent further deterioration. Calls are growing for a comprehensive probe and structural overhaul of the DSE to restore trust and ensure accountability.