The fate of more than 3300 Shikha Mitras (SMs) who were adjusted as primary school teachers by the State Government hangs in balance as the Uttarakhand High Court (HC) has cancelled the appointment of those who have not qualified the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) examination. On Saturday, the bench of Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia while hearing a petition of Udam Singh Nagar resident lalit Arya rendered the appointment of SMs as assistant teachers as unconstitutional.
The petitioner had challenged the appointment of these teachers as they were done in violation of the norms laid down in the universal Right to Education (RTE) act which mandates that only TET qualified candidates are eligible to teach in the schools.
Stung by the decision, the Uttarakhand federation of Shiksha Mitras has now decided to the challenge judgment. The President of Uttarakhand Federation of Shiksha Mitras, lalit Divwedi told The Pioneer that the decision of HC is very disappointing for about 3300 SMs who were absorbed in the education department as assistant teachers in January 2015. He said that a similar order was earlier passed by the HC which was stayed by double bench in December 2014 following which the appointments of SMs on post of assistant teachers were made. Divewedi said that these 3300 teachers have served as assistant teacher for more twenty two months now and the decision of court has shocked them. He added that these teachers are teaching in schools located in mountainous areas of state for more than 10 years and removing them would be injustice to them and the students.
The SMs were appointed as ad hoc teachers in the government primary schools on a monthly stipend of Rs 13000 in the year 2001. To get their services regularised the federation of SMs undertook a long agitation. Under pressure of the agitation these SMs were initiated into a special two year diploma course in elementary education by the State Government from the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) in March 2009. On November 07, 2013 the then Additional Chief Secretary S Raju sought the opinion of National Council of Teacher Education (NCTE) for these teachers. The NCTE after consultation with MHRD gave green signal for absorption of SMs as assistant teachers. However the HC now has ordered that only those teachers who have cleared TET level I are eligible for being primary teachers.