SC defers hearing on termination of over 10,000 Tripura teachers yet again

“The state government’s plea was to extend ad hoc engagement period of these (10,323) teachers for two years. The petition was made to ensure smooth functioning of academic activities in schools because there were not sufficient applicants who fulfil the minimum eligibility criteria despite issuing notification thrice,” Law Secretary Jamatia said.

The Tripura High Court had terminated recruitment of 10,323 under-graduate teachers, graduate teachers and post-graduate teachers in 2014 terming the recruitment process as unconstitutional. The previous Manik Sarkar government had challenged the verdict in the Supreme Court.

However, the apex court upheld the high court verdict and terminated their jobs with effect from December 31, 2017. They were later recruited on ad hoc basis for six months, which was later extended.

In May this year, Tripura’s newly formed BJP-IPFT government filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking an extension of these ad hoc teachers till 2020.

The petition was taken up for hearing several times but the final hearing was reserved. The hearing was deferred in June, July, September and October.

Nearly 7.29 lakh students are now studying in 4,928 schools in Tripura. But there are only 40,658 teachers in service who teach them. After BJP-led coalition government assumed office on March 9 this year, 12,222 vacant teaching posts were advertised but adequate candidates were not available.

Bhaskar Deb, a leader of ‘Amra 10,323’ (We are 10,323), reacted to deferring final hearing on extension petition for their jobs saying all teachers in the category were living in fear of joblessness.

“Even if the Supreme Court accepts the petition to extend our jobs till 2020, we would still be jobless after that time. We appeal the apex court and the government to consider us as a humanitarian case and provide us a permanent solution,” he said.