More than 5400 guest teachers, the services of whom are getting terminated on end of this month are keenly watching the decision the new BJP Government takes on their future. These teachers are hoping that the Government would continue their service after March 31.
The President of the association of guest teachers, lalit Dangwal said that a delegation of guest teachers had recently met the new education minister Arvind Pandey. He claimed that the Minister assured that the State Government would find a solution for guest teachers. The association is also anxiously awaiting the decision of double bench Uttarakhand high court. A bench of the HC had rendered the entire process of the appointment of guest teachers as unconstitutional and directed the State Government to end their contract. This decision was contested in the double bench. “ We are adopting a wait and watch policy till March 31. If our services are not extended, then we will decide our future course of action,’’ Dangwal said.
In view of large number of vacant posts of teachers, 6214 guest teachers were employed by the education department in August 2015 on a contract extending that academic year. As per the provision of the contract, the department terminated their services on March 2016 after which these teachers started a massive agitation. The State was under spell of President’s rule at that time and these teachers got boosted when Chief Minister Harish Rawat and Education Minister Mantri Prasad Naithani extended their support to them. The duo even sat on the protest site with the guest teachers.
When the Congress Government was restored following President’s rule, released a Government Order (GO) for reinstatement of these teachers.
This GO was contested in the court which rendered the entire process of recruitment of guest teachers as unconstitutional. The court however said that the Government can appoint these teachers till March 31, 2017, if its wishes. later the court asked the education department to terminate the services of these teachers.
It is learnt that the education department is not interested to continue the services of these teachers beyond March 31 this year.