In the recent recruitment of Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) / Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for 2,794 posts of primary teachers in the Government schools of State, the department consistently claimed that no irregularity had occurred in preparing the merit list as alleged by some candidates who were left out.
However, the list reveals that names of few candidates have appeared twice and the glaring mistake was overlooked by the officials. The subject wise merit list is available in the department website http://www.schooleducation.uk.gov.in and the repetition of the names means that the chance of Government job of some deserving candidates was marred in the process.
In the merit list of general arts, the name of a candidate Netra Pal Singh occupies the serial number 11 and 12; similarly Ruchi Raheja of Udham Singh Nagar finds place in rank numbers 267 and 268.
In the science (general) list, the name of PK Malhotra finds place in serial numbers 147 and 148. One of the left out candidates Devendra Kapri told this correspondent that there are many other mistakes in the merit list prepared by the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT).
He informed that many candidates belonging to the general category were selected despite of the fact that they had cross the maximum age of 40. Kapri said many candidates of general category are listed in reserved category due to which chances of many deserving candidates were marred.
When the correspondent pointed the error, the Director Academic Research and Training Seema Jaunsari said that the error had occurred due to software problem. Jaunsari who also heads the SCERT, said that the mistake would be corrected when the supplementary list of the left out candidates is released.
It is worth mentioning here that on the complaints of the left out candidates, the department had invited objections. More than 200 candidates had submitted their objections but saving one or two cases all objections were overruled.
Primary education Director RK Kunwar told The Pioneer that about 350 candidates whose names had appeared in the first merit list had failed to appear for the counselling and the department is now giving these candidates one last chance.
He said if these candidates fail to appear before the counselling committee till December 5, their candidature would stand cancelled. The education department would then release the supplementary list bearing the names of left out candidates.