SC bars UP govt from filling 37,339 posts of assistant teachers, allows to fill rest seats

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Uttar Pradesh government not to fill up all the 69,000 posts of assistant basic teachers and instead keep 37,339 posts vacant, which are currently held by Shiksha Mitras.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court bench led by Justice MM Shantanagoudar directed the Uttar Pradesh government to take steps to fill up the assistant teachers post except for 37,339 posts which have to be kept vacant.

It had asked the state government to explain through a chart detailing the vacancies and the chronology of events in the process which was undertaken for the appointments.

It issued a notice in all the matters and asked the state to reply by 14th July, on how many shiksha mitras are presently working in the state and appeared in the instant selection process, the number of shiksha mitras securing above 45% or more than 40% in reserved category and roll numbers of those.

The top court had asked the Uttar Pradesh government to explain as to why it changed the earlier criteria of 45 per cent cut-off marks for the general category and 40 per cent for the reserved category.

It clarified further that the ones who are presently holding their posts as Assistant Teachers shall not be disturbed but the state is at liberty to fill up remaining posts by instant selection. The concerned candidates can also file their responses within a week.

On May 21, the top court said it had directed the state government that the services of all the Shiksha Mitras, presently working on the post of assistant teachers, shall not be disturbed.

And in view of that, today's order read, "It is prima facie borne out from the records now produced that the state government is proceeding with the selection to fill up the posts. Such a process to be adopted by the State Government shall not be permitted in view of the interim order passed by this court on 21.5.2020."

The top court was hearing a batch of petitions challenging various orders of the high court and the government on the issue of appointment of assistant basic teachers.

The state government requested the court to not put a stay on the recruitment process but the bench declined saying that all the schools are closed and nothing will happen if recruitment is held till 14th July.