More pleas on teacher hiring

TT, Calcutta, Feb. 14: Over 250 candidates who had qualified the Teachers' Eligibility Test and received the primary teachers' training moved Calcutta High Court today challenging the process adopted by the Bengal government to fill up around 40,000 vacancies.

Of the total 72,000 vacancies of school teachers, 43,000 slots are for primary teachers. The selection process for primary teachers began on January 31 and the government has already filled up 42,400 posts.

The petitions were moved a day after education minister Partha Chatterjee had said the government would complete the process of filling up the 72,000 vacancies by March 15.

On February 7, Prasenjit Bose of East Midnapore and 152 candidates from six districts had moved similar petitions in the high court saying they were not selected despite qualifying the TET and having trained certificates. They accused the government of violating a court order that said the vacant posts of primary teachers would have to be filled with trained and TET-qualified candidates first, and if there were still vacancies, TET-qualified untrained candidates could be appointed.

Sources said many petitions challenging the process of the government were being filed every day. Justice Arijit Banerjee today decided to hear the petitions filed today and on February 7 tomorrow.

Chatterjee had yesterday said the selected candidates had been informed about their appointment through text messages or emails. But many candidates and Opposition leaders had questioned the selection process.