Manipur high court cancels jobs of 1,400 government teachers

IMPHAL: The Manipur high court on Wednesday quashed the recruitment of 1,423 teachers of government primary schools for breaching the process.
The teachers, who are currently working in different government schools across the state, were appointed in 2011.
According to advocate Genananda Hijam, who appeared on behalf of the petitioners, on September 12, 2006, the state government had issued a notification for recruiting primary teachers.
Though the notification mentioned recruitment of general (unreserved), Scheduled Caste (ST), Scheduled Caste (ST) and physically challenged persons, the government appointed 326 other backward class (OBC) candidates. The recruitment of OBC candidates was totally against the September 12 order, said Genananda. He added the government had disposed off answer scripts of the written examination before the final section list of the posts was declared.
Nine petitioners challenged the validity and legality of the whole recruitment process, including the September 4, 2011 recruitment order, and the subsequent appointment order dated December 9, 2006.
They prayed before the court to direct the government respondents to conduct a fresh recruitment process within a specific period. The state government, through chief secretary, commissioner/secretary and director of schools education, are the government respondents in the case.
Having heard both parties, the court headed by Justice Kh Nobin on Tuesday asked the government respondents to instruct the review selection committee to submit a fresh recommendation strictly in accordance with the September 12, 2006, notification within two months.
The recommendation shall include the lists of candidates belonging to unreserved, ST, SC and physically challenged persons only and not OBC at all. The government should issue a notification declaring the result and issue appointment orders within a month.