Next hearing on May 22 when criteria for filling vacancies to be discussed

~By Parth Sarthy Kaushik

The Supreme Court on April 28 directed the Uttar Pradesh government not to interfere with the functioning of the 65,000 teachers already appointed to fill existing vacancies. The apex court also directed the state government to accommodate candidates who have cleared the teacher eligibility test (TET) and fulfil other criteria.

However, the top court adjourned the matter (State of UP and Others vs Shiv Kumar Pathak and Others), pertaining to filling of vacancies for TET and shikshamitra (teaching assistants) in government schools, till May 2. Arguments to decide criteria for appointment in either of these two categories will be heard on this date. In the last hearing, the state government had filed a report stating that a few candidates have complained of not being appointed to the post of teacher even after securing qualifying marks.

On December 17, 2014, the court passed an interim order directing the state government to fill vacancies at the earliest following the government notifying procedure for it on November 30, 2011. The court had also asked the state government to file a progress report on the number of vacancies filled and the number of teachers being trained for future appointment.