By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 21: The state government has moved the Supreme Court against the High Court of Meghalaya ruling that invalidated the notification prohibiting government teachers from participating in politics.
The disclosure was made by the Meghalaya College Teachers’ Association (MCTA), led by VPP MLA Brightstarwell Marbaniang, on Thursday. Marbaniang said the state government filed the appeal on November 25, and the first hearing was held on December 11.
He emphasized that the case is not merely a conflict between individuals and the government but a broader issue concerning Meghalaya’s teachers and their right to engage in political activities.
“As teachers, we have the right to vote, contest elections, and hold offices in political parties. Throughout Meghalaya’s history, many teachers have successfully contested elections, won and contributed to the state’s overall development,” he added.
In 2021, the then MDA Government had issued an order prohibiting teachers from political involvement, arguing that schools and colleges should remain “free from politics”. Despite attempts by teachers to meet with the government and request the revocation of the notification, their plea was disregarded.
Marbaniang recounted that in 2022, the teachers filed a petition in the High Court challenging the government’s notification.
The High Court ruled in favour of the teachers, with Justice HS Thangkhiew noting that government-aided college teachers did not hold an office of profit. Following the single bench ruling, the state government appealed to the double bench of then Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh in 2023, and once again, the court sided with the teachers.
Highlighting the UGC regulation, Marbaniang stated, “As part of our professional ethics, it is our duty to teach and shoulder the responsibility of public office.”
He concluded by noting that prior to the introduction of the service book by the state government, the state had adopted the book from Assam, where there were no restrictions on teachers’ participation in politics.
He pointed out that only in recent years did the state government enact such a law restricting teachers from engaging in active politics.