SHILLONG: The government is in a dilemma over the impending cancellation of the lower primary school teachers’ entire recruitment process as ordered by the High Court of Meghalaya and upheld by the Apex Court following the education scam.
The High Court in its order on November 2 had asked the government to call for fresh recruitment process.
Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui said on Tuesday that the government will examine all angles before finally carrying out the cancellation and fresh recruitment process.
“We will examine the court order and consult legal experts before making the final decision since deserving candidates will be affected,” Rymbui said.
Sources said since the April 6 Supreme Court order mentioned that the affected teachers, whose cases have not been heard, can still move the High Court, the government may wait for some more time.
Earlier, the November 2 order of the High Court said the entire selection process under the advertisement on December 10, 2008, as issued by the Deputy Inspector of Schools in pursuance of the notification on November 24, 2008, is vitiated in relation to Shillong Sadar, Jowai, Amlarem, Tura and Dadenggre centres.
It was later annulled subject to the proviso that only the candidates who have been treated as untainted/unblemished both in the reports of CBI and HLSC and are in service, may be allowed to continue as stop-gap arrangement until fresh selection takes place.
“However, all the untainted/unblemished candidates of the five centres, whether in service or not, will be allowed to participate in the fresh selection process, if otherwise eligible in accordance with the present applicable rules/guidelines, without applying afresh,” the order said.
According to the order, none of the untainted candidates will be treated as age-barred if he or she was within the age prescribed by the notification on November 24, 2008.
The High Court had also made it clear that none of the candidates who have been found tainted, whether in the report of CBI or that of HLSC or both “as also none of the candidates who had been recommended by the public representatives shall be taken or retained in service even in stop-gap arrangement and the service of every such candidate, who is yet continuing, whether by way of regular appointment or in ad hoc arrangement, shall stand terminated with immediate effect”.
