Mandatory summoning of school records for verifying employment claims

Dispute resolution concerning the claims of part-time contractual or temporary teachers requires the meticulous examination of primary institutional records such as attendance registers, class routines, and engagement letters. Competent authorities cannot adjudicate upon complex financial claims and service regularisation disputes relying solely on generalized assumptions or superficial noting files. Judicial orders directing the Secretary or competent officer to summon relevant records directly from the respective school authorities are designed to ensure factual accuracy and objective assessment. Inspecting the underlying documentation enables both parties to verify the exact duration, nature, and continuity of service rendered by the claimants during the disputed period. When authorities fail to summon or inspect these vital records before rejecting claims, the resulting administrative order suffers from a fundamental jurisdictional flaw based on non-application of mind. The presence of authentic institutional records bridges the gap between conflicting assertions and provides a credible evidentiary basis for computing arrears. Consequently, courts will readily intervene to mandate the proper summoning and joint inspection of records to safeguard employee entitlements. (Gurupada Bera & Ors. v. Binod Kumar & Ors. | 2026 INSC 20)