Today(on 10thApril), 700 Tripura undergraduate teachers petition Supreme Court against ‘unlawful’ 2017 and 2020 termination orders, citing state’s invalidated Employment Policy.
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NEW DELHI: Today(on 10thApril), a cohort of 700 undergraduate teachers from Tripura has brought their concerns to the Supreme Court, submitting a petition to contest the termination directives issued by the state administration in 2017 and 2020. These educators assert that the termination orders were unjust and unconstitutional, and and they are seeking justice and reinstatement through the legal system.
The petition, which has been filed under Article 32 of the Constitution, highlights the background of the case. In 2014, the Tripura High Court declared the Employment Policy implemented by the state government as bad in law.” As a result, the High Court nullified the appointment of over 10,000 teachers who were supposedly hired under this policy. Subsequently, these teachers were terminated by the state government, leaving them in a state of distress and uncertainty.
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The petitioners raise valid concerns regarding the applicability of the Employment Policy to their own recruitment process. They argue that they were recruited in strict adherence to the existing recruitment rules at the time, and therefore, they should not be affected by the 2014 High Court judgment, which primarily targeted appointments made under the controversial policy.
In addition to their complaints, the petitioners revealed that they were taken by surprise by the High Court’s ruling, as they were not informed about the proceedings—a situation they characterize as being judged “without their knowledge.”
The legal representation for the teachers, comprising Advocates Tarini K Nayak, Amrit Lal Saha, and Aaditya Mishra, has cast a spotlight on what they describe as a “massive scam” orchestrated by the state authorities.
According to the details outlined in the petition, despite the termination of the teachers, their employment and salary records remain active, leading to a scenario where funds meant for their salaries are possibly being siphoned off by corrupt elements within the system. This alarming claim has prompted an investigation by the Principal Accountant General (Addl.) of Tripura, as the petitioners allege that the state’s coffers are being drained under the guise of paying non-existent salaries.
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The petition does not shy away from portraying the dire consequences of the government’s actions on the affected teachers. It paints a bleak picture of their current plight, noting that the termination has not only stripped them of their livelihoods but has also placed them in a “grim situation.” The document soberly notes that over 160 teachers have succumbed to the harsh realities of their circumstances, with some taking their own lives.
