BY TC News Desk
Agartala, July 12, 2023: In a bid to resolve the complexities surrounding the recruitment of graduate teachers, the government of Tripura has announced its intention to file a Special Leave Petition (SLP) with the Supreme Court of India.
Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha conveyed this information during a session in the state assembly on Wednesday, in response to a notice submitted by Leader of the Opposition Animesh Debbarma.
The issue stems from the Selection Test for Graduate Teachers (STGT) examination conducted by the Teachers Recruitment Board Tripura (TRBT), which has faced legal hurdles resulting in a prolonged recruitment process of over nine months. The High Court of Tripura dismissed the state government’s review petition concerning the reservation of more than 50 percent of posts for a specific job advertisement.
Debbarma raised the concern over the shortage of teachers in government schools through a calling attention notice. During the question hour, discussions revolved around the scarcity of teachers in rural schools, exacerbated by the Supreme Court’s verdict that led to the elimination of 10,323 teachers. The retirement of a significant number of teachers each year further compounds the problem.
The Chief Minister informed the assembly that the TRBT has been conducting regular exams to fill vacant teaching positions. In the past five years, 6,766 teachers, including 88 special educators, have been recruited—a historic step toward revitalizing the education sector in Tripura.
Despite opposition MLAs attempting to address the issue of the 10,323 teachers, the Chief Minister expressed that enough discussions had already taken place on this matter.
Regarding the STGT, Debbarma expressed concerns about the pending status of the recruitment process and the confusion faced by aspirants. He questioned whether the exams would remain valid or be canceled, considering the court’s ruling on reservation percentages.
The government’s decision to seek relief from the Supreme Court aims to address the ongoing challenges and bring resolution to the graduate teacher recruitment process in Tripura.
