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GUWAHATI, Jan 31: The M Merunu bench of the Gauhati High Court has stayed the process of appointment of graduate teachers, postgraduate teachers and demonstrators in various schools in the State till February 14. The process of appointment of teachers is going on in accordance with the advertisement published by Janasangyog through the Directorate of Secondary Education, Assam on January 7, 2011. The High Court today heard a case (469/2011) filed by 36 applicants for various posts of teachers, and asked the State Education Commissioner to file an affidavit stating as to why B.Ed has been made compulsory for appointment as teachers.
Talking to The Sentinel, advocate Pranabjyoti Saikia, appearing for the petitioners, said: “The petitioners are of the view that the State Education Department has unilaterally violated the Assam Secondary School (Provincialized) Service Rules, 2003 by making B.Ed degree compulsory for the post of graduate teachers, postgraduate teachers and demonstrators, thereby depriving a large number of meritorious candidates. Going by the National Council of Teacher Education (NCTE) Determination of Minimum Qualification for Recruitment of Teachers in Schools Rules, the department has taken the step to make B.Ed degree compulsory for the posts of teachers. Though the Central Government, through an Act in 2001, had implemented and effected the NCTE Determination of Minimum Qualification for Recruitment of Teachers in Schools Rules, it had asked State governments to revise their respective rules in accordance with the Central Government Rules. In 2003, the Assam Government prepared and implemented the service rules, but did not revise the rules, while B.Ed degree was made compulsory for the posts of graduate teachers, postgraduate teachers and demonstrators. Without the required revision of the service rules, how can B.Ed degree be made compulsory for the posts of teachers? This apart, extending the upper age limit of candidates up to 46 years in 2006 is also beyond any rules. The advertisement also doesn’t have any provision for candidates who are wards of retired teachers. The advertisement is also silent on 27 per cent reservation for OBC and MOBC candidates, and 30 per cent reservation for women candidates.”  (SentinelAssam)