The Tripura School Education Department has issued show-cause notices to three government teachers in South Tripura and Sepahijala over allegations of professional misconduct and paid coaching for Teachers’ Eligibility Test (TET) aspirants, giving them three days to respond before considering further action.
Key Takeaways
-
School Education Department of Tripura has issued show-cause notices to three government teachers over alleged professional misconduct and paid TET coaching.
-
The teachers must submit written explanations within three days of receiving the notices.
-
The department will decide on further action after examining their replies, the available evidence and applicable service rules.
Over allegations of professional misconduct, including conducting private coaching for candidates preparing for the Teachers’ Eligibility Test (TET-I and TET-II) in exchange for payment, the School Education Department of the State has taken action against three government school teachers.
District Education Officers (DEOs) in South Tripura and Sepahijala have issued show-cause notices to the teachers. The notices seek written explanations within three days of receipt. The department will examine their responses before deciding whether further proceedings are necessary.
Tripura Teachers Face Allegations Over Professional Conduct
A senior School Education Department official confirmed that the department had issued the notices. The cases involve allegations concerning compliance with service conduct rules applicable to government employees.
One case concerns a Post Graduate Teacher (PGT) posted in Belonia, South Tripura. The teacher reportedly received a notice following the circulation of a video on social media. The video has raised questions about whether his conduct complies with the rules governing government employees.
The department will examine the circumstances surrounding the video and the relevant service provisions before deciding on any further action.
However, the issuance of a show-cause notice does not establish that the teacher has committed any wrongdoing. The department must consider the available material and the teacher’s explanation before reaching a conclusion.
Two Teachers Face Allegations of Paid TET Coaching
The other two cases involve a Graduate Teacher in Sepahijala district and another teacher in South Tripura.
According to available information, both teachers received show-cause notices over allegations of conducting private coaching classes, tuition sessions, and mock tests for TET-I and TET-II candidates in exchange for payment.
The allegations concern teachers preparing candidates for eligibility tests while serving in government schools. The department is seeking explanations to determine whether the reported activities violated applicable service rules and departmental directives.
The notices allow both teachers to respond to the allegations and present their respective positions.
The competent authorities will need to examine the relevant evidence and service regulations before deciding whether the allegations warrant further proceedings.
Department to Examine Replies Before Further Action
The teachers must submit their written explanations within three days of receiving the notices. Their responses will form part of the department’s assessment of the cases.
The authorities will consider the explanations alongside the available evidence and the provisions governing the conduct of government employees. The department will then decide whether the cases require further action.
If the authorities find the replies unsatisfactory, they may initiate disciplinary proceedings under the applicable rules. Any such decision will depend on the findings of the examination and the prescribed procedures.
The department may also consider suspension or other disciplinary measures where the relevant service regulations permit such action and the circumstances justify it.
However, no final finding of misconduct has been established in these cases at the show-cause stage. The department must follow the prescribed procedures before taking any disciplinary decision.
The outcome will depend on the teachers’ responses, the material available to the authorities and any subsequent proceedings.
Govt Rules on Private Tuition Under Focus
The development has renewed attention on professional conduct among government employees, particularly the rules governing private tuition, coaching and other outside activities.
The Tripura government had earlier prohibited government teachers from engaging in private tuition or coaching under applicable service rules and departmental directives.
The latest notices indicate that the department is examining alleged violations of these restrictions. The authorities may also consider other cases if they find evidence of similar violations.
Any further action will depend on the facts of each case and compliance with the relevant service regulations.
For now, the three teachers have an opportunity to explain their conduct. The department will determine the next steps after reviewing their replies and the available evidence.