Recruitment drive raises eyebrows

Updated on: Monday, August 31, 2009

Kolkata: The government has decided to recruit more than 50,000 primary teachers in an apparent bid to put to rest the controversy generated by the issue involving primary teachers’ training institutes (PTTIs). However, this might lead to further trouble. The reason: a major portion of the posts has been reserved for various sections, including a new “exempted category”.

The government issued an advertisement on Sunday seeking more than 50,000 teachers for 17 district primary school councils. According to the advertisement, over 60 per cent of the posts are reserved for SC/ST/OBC candidates in several districts. Applicants are, however, confused over the meaning of the phrase exempted category, because it is unclear as to who are eligible for it.

An official from the education department said this includes various categories of people, like those who have participated in Census work on a temporary basis, land-losers and so on. While officials are not making it clear whether exempted category means choosing PTTI candidates “as they have some training in primary teaching”, sources say it is primarily with this aim that such a category has been created and kept reserved in this form.

However, legal expert Arunabha Ghosh said the Supreme Court had clearly mentioned that a state government could not reserve over 50 per cent of job posts. But the state seems to be clearly flouting this. Prof Manas Ray, another expert, said: “Even if the state is trying to provide benefits to PTTI candidates by deciding to recruit so many teachers at one go, it is in clear violation of the Supreme Court directive if the reservation is more than 50 per cent.”

Lawyers Subrata Mukherjee and Ekarmul Bari said they would seek a stay on the recruitment process.

The government is seeking regularization of 146 PTTIs that have been termed illegal by the high court.

Recruitment drive raises eyebrows

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