In a significant development, the Tripura High Court’s single bench, headed by Justice Arindam Lodh, delivered a verdict on Tuesday dismissing a petition that sought the regularisation of teachers recruited under the Samagra Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) scheme.
The decision has left SSA teachers disappointed, with plans underway to file a review petition before the division bench.
Advocate Kaushik Roy, representing the SSA teachers, provided insight into the court’s ruling. “Justice Arindam Lodh has rejected the plea for regularisation, emphasizing that the appointments were temporary as part of a special government scheme.
The court maintained that the recruitment of regular teachers without the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) examination cannot be entertained,” explained Roy.
The leader of SSA teachers, Bastab Debbarma, expressed disappointment and concern over the court’s decision.
“The High Court has rejected our petition seeking regularisation. While we await the detailed order to understand the specific grounds for dismissal, we firmly believe that we deserve to receive a regular pay scale. Therefore, we plan to challenge this decision in the division bench,” stated Debbarma.
Debbarma shed light on the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) introducing new rules pertaining to the eligibility criteria for teachers.
These rules state that if the job advertisement was issued before August 23, 2010, the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) was not mandatory for regularisation.
He further emphasized that Graduate Science Teachers who received appointment letters after 2010 were able to perform their duties in schools without facing any complications.
However, SSA teachers, despite their numerous attempts, did not receive any relief from the state government.
Undeterred by the single bench’s decision, Debbarma affirmed, “Regardless of the reasons cited in the judgment, we remain committed to challenging it in the division bench.”
The verdict delivered by the Tripura High Court has raised concerns among SSA teachers who had long aspired for regularisation, leaving them hopeful that the division bench will reconsider their plea and address their longstanding demands for fair treatment and proper remuneration.
SSA teachers play a vital role in the education system, contributing to the academic growth and development of students.
The division bench’s decision will be eagerly awaited, as it holds the potential to shape the future of SSA teachers in Tripura, determining whether they will receive the “much-deserved regularisation” and the accompanying benefits that come with it.