Agitation in Tripura Assembly over 8,000 teacher retrenchment issue

A Correspondent

Agartala: The Tripura Assembly on Friday witnessed uproarious scenes over the possible retrenchment of over 8,000 teachers appointed during the previous Left Front Government which was declared by the High Court as illegal and the Supreme Court also upheld the verdict. The Supreme Court gave time to implement the order which is going to expire on March 31, 2020.

Originally there were 10,323 teachers in this category, but over time, some left service or joined other services reducing the number to around 8,000. The court declared their appointment illegal as the then Left Front government appointed them on the basis of an employment policy that violates constitutional provisions.

The BJP in their vision document released before the last Assembly election assured them to consider their case on humanitarian grounds but is yet to take any step to ensure the continuation of their services. Recently, the police arrested many of them for resorting to agitation.

The House turned volatile when the Speaker rejected an adjournment motion brought by chief whip of CPI(M) Tapan Chakraborty and the entire Opposition rushed in front of the Speaker’s podium led by the leader of the Opposition and former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar. The situation turned tense when several members of the Treasury bench like Kalyani Roy, Susanta Choudhury, Arun Chandra Bhawmik and Ram Prasad Pal stood up with various postures.

The tussle started immediately after Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Debbarma completed reading out his Budget speech and the Speaker was to move for the next business. Speaker Rebati Mohon Das assured the Opposition members that they will get a chance to discuss the issue during Question Hour but that failed to satisfy the Opposition who continued their protests forcing adjournment of the House till the recess.

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