The petition, led by Mukesh Singh Barkade and others from various districts, questions the reliability of the government’s “Hamare Shikshak” app. The teachers claim the system suffers from network failures, server slowdowns, and facial recognition errors, particularly in rural areas with poor connectivity. They also alleged that several teachers lack smartphones capable of supporting the app and face difficulties affording data packs for daily use.
The petition further stated that some officials have threatened to withhold salaries or initiate disciplinary action against teachers unable to mark attendance due to technical glitches. “Many teachers are being unfairly harassed for system failures beyond their control,” the plea said.
The state government, in its affidavit, refuted all allegations, asserting that the “Our Teachers” app functions smoothly and is being used by around 73% of teachers across Madhya Pradesh. It maintained that any remaining staff are being trained to use the platform effectively, and no major network or server problems have been identified.
During an earlier hearing on October 23,both sides presented their arguments. The government defended the system as a step toward transparency and accountability in education management, while petitioners demanded alternative arrangements, such as biometric attendance in schools or a return to the traditional register-based system.
The court has taken both submissions on record and will examine the affidavits before deciding on the validity of the e-attendance mechanism in government schools.
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