The Supreme Court of India has voiced strong concerns regarding the treatment of teachers in the nation, emphasizing that merely reciting "guru brahma, guru vishnu, guru devo maheshwarah" is insufficient if educators are struggling with meager salaries. This observation was made during a case addressing the disparity in pay for assistant professors in Gujarat's government engineering colleges. The court highlighted that contractual assistant professors were receiving a monthly salary of only Rs. 30,000, while ad-hoc and regular assistant professors earned significantly more, approximately Rs 1.16 Lakh and Rs 1.36 Lakh per month respectively.

Justices P S Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi, presiding over the bench, expressed worry over how teachers, who are responsible for shaping future generations, are being treated. The court underscored the vital role of educators as the intellectual foundation of the nation, dedicating their lives to nurturing critical thinking, mentoring, guiding research, imparting values, and shaping the minds of future generations. Their influence extends far beyond delivering lessons, contributing significantly to societal progress.

The Supreme Court stressed that the compensation and recognition given to teachers often fail to reflect the significance of their contributions. The court asserted that when educators are not treated with dignity or provided with respectable salaries, it diminishes the value a country places on knowledge and undermines the motivation of those entrusted with developing the nation's intellectual capital.

In its ruling, the Supreme Court addressed the Gujarat government's appeal against a High Court order that directed the state to adhere to the "equal work, equal pay principle" when determining the salaries for assistant professors in engineering colleges. The court emphasized that ensuring fair remuneration and dignified treatment is essential to affirm the importance of the role of teachers and the nation's commitment to quality education, innovation, and a brighter future for its youth.

The court noted that many teachers had been underpaid for over a decade. While there was no distinction in the duties performed by contractually appointed assistant professors and their colleagues appointed regularly or on an ad hoc basis, the contractually appointed professors continued to draw a monthly salary of Rs 30,000. The Supreme Court directed that contractually appointed assistant professors are entitled to the minimum pay scale admissible to regular assistant professors, with arrears calculated at 8% interest, payable from three years before the filing of their writ petitions.

This ruling underscores the importance of fair compensation and dignified treatment for educators, recognizing their crucial role in shaping the future of the nation. It serves as a reminder that valuing knowledge and investing in those who impart it are essential for societal progress.