Staff Reporter
Guwahati: The Directorate of Secondary Education (DSE), Assam, is facing a serious credibility crisis as contempt of court cases have surged to alarming levels. Official data reveals that presently a total of 125 contempt cases have been registered against the Directorate, and all of them are still languishing at the Gauhati High Court (HC).
A breakdown of these pending contempt cases over the past few years reveals the actual scenario, with 11 cases filed in 2020, 7 cases in 2021, 12 in 2022, 23 cases in 2023, 37 in 2024 and 35 cases in 2025 (so far).
The Directorate of Secondary Education (DSE), Assam, is under fire as a staggering 125 contempt cases remain pending against it in the Gauhati High Court under the tenure of incumbent Director Mamata Hojai. The contempt case data, as reflected in the website of Gauhati High Court, speaks for itself, pointing to an unprecedented administrative collapse in the DSE office under her leadership. Teachers allegedly victimised across the state have alleged that Hojai’s inefficiency and gross negligence have resulted in irreparable losses to the teaching community, and the whole education department is facing a clumsy environment.
Critics argue that the increasing number of cases underlines administrative inefficiency, a lack of accountability, and a troubling culture of non-compliance with legal obligations.
This steady and troubling rise in contempt cases underscores a blatant disregard for the directives of the judiciary. Despite multiple legal reprimands, the DSE, Assam, has failed to take corrective action, allowing these serious matters to drag on. The mounting contempt cases have not only burdened the Gauhati High Court but also eroded public trust in one of the most vital education bodies of the state.
Moreover, allegations have surfaced against DSE officials close to Mamata Hojai that one lady deputy director, the superintendent of a branch and a retired teacher are all accused of functioning as middlemen to extract undue benefits in the process of resolving grievances. Many have further claimed that their grievances go unheard unless these are routed “through touts” and offer “illegal gratifications”.
The teachers’ community has now demanded the immediate removal or replacement of the director and all other troublesome officials at DSE, Assam. “Our legitimate grievances will never see the light of day until this corrupt and inefficient leadership is shown the door,” one aggrieved teacher lamented.
The teachers also asserted that unless there is a CID inquiry, the truth behind the delay in issuing orders, processing and cause of pendency of files cannot be unearthed and will remain under red tape and face unnecessary delays.
With the Directorate under harsh scrutiny for failing to honour the orders of the High Court, there are growing calls for immediate administrative intervention to address this crisis and restore credibility to the DSE office. All eyes are now looking up at the Chief Minister to rescue the DSE from this debacle.
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