By Fr James Mani (SDB)
In the first week of March 2014, I was shocked to read in the newspaper the news concerning the termination of 246 teachers from service as they had been found to have access to unlawful methods to get teaching posts in primary schools of Meghalaya.. They had been termed as “TAINTED TEACHERS”.
It was all the more shocking to me as some of them had been my students and friends whose credibility I never questioned earlier. But as these friends of mine under the investigation of CBI, had been termed “TAINTED,” I accepted the judgement of the Court..
But as years rolled by , and witnessing the malpractices exercised by some of the government and non-government departments, I doubt the credibility of some of these institutions ( CBI, ED.,NIA )
The cases relating to Fr. Stan Swamy, aged 83 years,the catholic priest who was falsely accused of having links with Maoists after the government agencies had downloaded questionable materials into his laptop and who ultimately dies in the lock-up, the false and unfounded accusation and imprisonment of Shri Arvind Kejriwal, the ex-Chief Minister of Delhi, known for his total integrity and good governance, of Mr. Manish Sisodia, the deputy to Shri Arvind Kejriwal, of Shri Sanjay Singh, of Shri Sonam Wanchuk , who champions the cause of people in Ladakh, of the Christian nuns arrested and jailed while travelling by train, branding them as agents of human trafficking, are just few examples from the many outstanding failures of the departments in which I had reposed great trust. .
As per the information received during this period, all these teachers had gone through all the required norms and formalities when they applied for the post of Assistant teachers in the Lower Primary school.
They had successfully completed the SET ( State Eligibility Test) and the interview, or had completed any of the UG courses with 45 % marks and the interview.
These teachers were appointed as Assistant Teachers in Government Lower primary Schools under the recruitment process initiated vide Notification No. EDN.360/85/Pt.11/428 Dated 24.11.2008 and Advertisement dated 10.12.2008 .
On 4th Jan. 2010 the appointments were made and those who received the appointments were asked to attend the orientation program in the different Diet centres.
The newly selected teachers were appointed in different primary schools of Meghalaya.
Then comes the most unexpected event.. the termination of teachers in February 2014. It came as a thunderbolt. The termination of teachers from Service was due to the finding of the High Level Scrutiny Committee (HLSC) constituted under the directions of the Hon’ble Gauhati High Court ( Division Bench) in WA No.52 of 2011 .
HLSC relied upon the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) report which alleged manipulation of marks and interference by public functionaries during the selection process.
The entire matter was comprehensively adjudicated by the Hon’ble High Court of Meghalaya in its common judgement dated 02.11.2017 in WA No.52 of 2011, whereby the selection process for certain centres ( Shillong Sadar , Jowai, Amlarem , Tura, and Dadenggre) was annulled, with a direction that only “UNTAINTED” teachers may be allowed to continue as a stop-gap arrangement.
The lives of 246 teachers came to a sudden halt. They did not know where and who to turn to. They had already given unstinted service in the various schools of Khasi – Jaintia, Garo regions for a couple of years.. It was not just their lives but of the entire families that were shattered. They had been defamed. They felt that they had been falsely accused. They had been hurt beyond repair. They felt that they had been thrown right down a precipice…
The selection of the teachers was entirely the responsibility of the Selection Committee. If they had noticed anomalies with any of the documents submitted by the candidates to them, action should have been taken immediately. Besides, the disqualified teachers were forbidden henceforth from applying for any Government jobs in Meghalaya.
Thus started a life of uncertainty, disillusionment, and poverty for the 246 teachers. They did not know how to handle the situation. The whole society looked down on them as dishonest persons. They could not seek alternate appointments elsewhere. All the doors were closed to them.
The Hon’ble Supreme Court vide its Order dated 06.04.2018 in SLP© Diary No. 40348 of 2017 permitted the above-mentioned teachers to move the High Court and seek redress , recognizing their right to be heard.
Though they had acute scarcity of funds to engage lawyers to take their cause, the All Meghalaya Primary School Teachers Association filed a Review Petition wherein it was specifically pleaded that the tainted teachers who were never involved in any malpractice should not have been punished for the alleged acts of a few.
On 04,09.2025 the Hon’ble court of Meghalaya pronounced the all important judgement Crl Petn.Nos 12,36, 70 & 71 of 2023 , titled CBI v Mazeal Ampareen Lyngdoh & Ors.In the said judgement , the Hon’ble Court has discharged the Education Minister, Smti M. Ampareen Lyngdoh, ( A1) , the Director Shri J.D.Sangma (A2) and the Deputy Director, Smti Ameka I. Lyngdoh ( A 3 ) from all criminal liability, holding that there was no sufficient evidence of conspiracy, fraud, forgery, or manipulation and that continuation of such proceedings after 17 years would not serve the ends of justice.
The very foundation of the alleged “TAINTED SELECTION” has now been completely removed by the recent judgement of the Hon’ble High Court of Meghalaya dated 04.09.2025 in Crl.Petn.Nos 12,36, 70 & 71 of 2023 , titled CBI v Mazeal Ampareen Lyngdoh & Ors.
This discharge order completely exonerates the main decision-makers whose alleged actions formed the sole basis for declaring the selection “tainted” and for terminating the teachers’ services The Hon’ble Supreme Court and various High Courts have consistently held that when the foundation of administrative action ceases to exist, the consequential orders automatically fall.
Now that the alleged criminal irregularities have been judicially found to be unfounded and non-existent, the termination of the teachers , based solely on such allegation, has become untenable, arbitrary, and seriously violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the constitution of India.
In view of the changed circumstances, one urges the Government in the interest of justice to take the following actions:
1. Reconsider the termination order issued pursuant to the 2014 actions based on the HLSC report;
2. Reinstate immediately all the untainted teachers who were not found guilty of any misconduct , with continuity of services, pensionary and other consequential benefits
3.Treat the period of unemployment as notional service , for seniority and pension purposes , as the termination was founded on allegations now disproved .
Most of the terminated teachers have rendered invaluable service for several years and were removed from service without any personal fault. Many have crossed the upper age limit, lost their only livelihood and continue to suffer severe financial and social hardships.
What has further shocked me is the fact none of the main accused : Smti Mazeal Ampareen Lyngdoh, nor Shri. Jeffrey D Sangma nor Smt. Ameka I. Lyngdoh has come out openly to help and support and plead for the innocence of these vast numbers of teachers who are still languishing under the weight of the false accusations. They have gone scot free and the world ends there for them. What about putting a word with the government to reinstate their brothers and sisters to their former dignity and wellness.
In these circumstances, it is my earnest appeal to the Government, headed by the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma, to restore justice and dignity to our teachers by reinstating them to their posts . This will help to remove a grave blot affecting our state which is noted for good governance and fair play in all its dealings. These our brothers and sisters have lost 17 of their youthful years in anguish, uncertainty, and defamation. Can the government bring solace and comfort to the remaining years of their lives?
