India, Aug. 11 -- LUCKNOW The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court on Tuesday directed the state government to extend pay parity and consequential service benefits to special teachers/resource teachers, on contract for several years in government schools.

The court held that the contractual status of the teachers, who were roped in to educate children with special needs, could not be used to deny them benefits available to corresponding regular teachers.

The authorities have been given four months from the date of production of a certified copy of the order to implement the directions.

Justice Irshad Ali passed the judgement on August 6 while allowing a petition filed by petitioners, Vipin Mishra and 23 others, who had been appoin...