STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The Gauhati High Court directed Education Volunteers (EVs) to submit their representation with a prayer to permit them to apply for any teacher post before the School Education Department of the state government.
The direction was given by the HC in connection with an earlier order dated June 23, 2023, which the court said was also applicable in the instant writ petition. The HC also instructed the department concerned, the state School Education Department, to dispose of the representation with a speaking order in accordance with law within a period of two months from the date of its receipt.
The HC said petitioners in the instant writ petition were serving as Education Volunteers (EV) under different Education Guarantee Scheme (EGS) Centres, which were established for the implementation of provisions of the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. The appointment of the petitioners as education volunteers was made after a selection process.
Subsequently, the EGS Centres were shut down due to the exhaustion of funds, and the petitioners found themselves without any jobs. As they do not possess the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) qualifications, they are also unable to apply for the job of teacher.
Therefore, being aggrieved, the petitioners made a representation before the Minister of Education, Government of Assam, on June 2, 2022, praying for relaxation from passing out the mandatory TET qualification in respect of the petitioners and to permit them to apply for any teacher post.
After hearing the counsel for the parties, the HC said, “It appears that the representation dated June 2, 2022, is made to the Minister of Education, Government of Assam, and not before the appropriate authority. Accordingly, this writ petition is disposed of, directing the petitioners to file a fresh representation before the Secretary, School Education Department, Govt. of Assam, within a period of two weeks from today. Thereafter, on receipt of the representation, the Secretary, School Education Department, shall consider and dispose of the same by a speaking order in accordance with law within a period of 2 (two) months from the date of receipt of the representation.”
The writ petition was disposed of with the observations and directions: “The same would also cover the grievance raised by the petitioners in the present writ petition. However, it is also provided that the petitioners will file individual applications for the purpose before the concerned authority. All other terms as per the order shall remain the same.”
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