Cuttack, Sept. 10: The state government has contended in Orissa High Court that the ongoing cease work by teachers in grant-in-aid schools (block grant) was "illegal" and their demand "illogical".

The teachers of recognised private schools, managed by their respective managing committees, receiving grant-in-aid from January 1, 2004, have been on strike since August 10. They are demanding full grant-in-aid to get salaries at par with their counterparts in government schools.

The PIL has been filed by Markatnagar resident Babaji Sahoo, 62, urging the court to declare the strike illegal.

The note, submitted by advocate-general Surya Prasad Mishra during the course of hearing yesterday, said ownership of the schools was vested with the school managing committee. "It is the management's responsibility to pay the salary component. The government is only one supporting agency giving grant-in-aid. The grant-in-aid cannot be claimed as a matter of right," the government said.

The concept of block grant was introduced in 2004. In it, the government had repealed the grant-in-aid order of 1994.

"Hence, the demand for full grant-in-aid according to the 1994 order is illogical," the government contended.

The Odisha Education Act prohibits closure of recognised educational institutions without the managing committee informing the government at least 12 months in advance. But, the teachers of these schools are on strike since August 10 in violation of the act. Hence, it is "illegal".