MP Raju Bista Urges Immediate Action for Regularization of Volunteer Teachers in GTA Region

KalimNews, Darjeeling, December 18, 2025 : Raju Bista, Member of Parliament for Darjeeling and National Spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party, called for urgent action to address the issue of 313 volunteer teachers in the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) schools. Bista in a press release issued today, urged the GTA to appeal to the Supreme Court for the regularization of these teachers and offered his full support to ensure their rights and livelihoods are protected.

The statement follows the recent decision by the Hon'ble Calcutta High Court, which canceled the regularization of the teachers appointed in GTA schools. Bista pointed out that this ruling highlights the immediate need for the formation of a Regional School Service Commission (SSC) and a College Service Commission (CSC) in the Gorkhaland region. He emphasized that the formation of these bodies is essential to manage teacher appointments and ensure fair recruitment processes in the region.

In the press release, Bista reminded that education had been transferred as a subject to the regional administration following the establishment of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC). He recalled how the late Subash Ghising had resisted the West Bengal government's attempts to appoint teachers through the state-run SSC to protect the region’s autonomy and preserve the local culture, language, and heritage.

Bista further highlighted that this stance was reaffirmed under the leadership of Bimal Gurung, with the GTA Act of 2011 clearly placing education under the GTA's jurisdiction and mandating the establishment of a separate selection body for teachers.

"Article 22 of the GTA Tripartite Agreement specifically calls for the formation of a distinct School Service Commission and College Service Commission," the MP said in his press release. "Moreover, Articles 26(v), (vi), and (viii) of the GTA Act transfer the responsibility of primary, secondary, higher secondary, college, library services, and nursing training to the GTA."

Despite these provisions, Bista noted that the West Bengal government had failed to establish the required regional SSC and CSC even after 15 years of the GTA Act's enactment. As a result, many schools in the region have been left without regular teachers, forcing management committees to appoint "volunteer teachers." These 313 teachers have served for over a decade without regular pay and are in urgent need of regularization, according to Bista.

The MP also criticized the selection process in 2019, when a selection committee was formed by the ruling party in the GTA. Allegations arose that bribes were taken to regularize ineligible, non-volunteer candidates while sidelining the real volunteer teachers. "The TMC government not only failed to form a regional SSC and CSC but also shielded corrupt practices that have harmed legitimate teachers," Bista stated in the press release.

Bista's statement comes in the wake of a legal development where the Advocate General of West Bengal informed the court that the state had instructed the cancellation of the appointments of 313 volunteer teachers. Bista expressed concern that instead of protecting the legitimate teachers, the state had opted to defend corrupt individuals, leading to a situation where the real teachers were victimized.

"I urge the GTA administration to immediately create a list of genuine volunteer teachers and a separate list of those who were included through improper means," Bista stated. He also demanded that the members of the selection committee be publicly identified and held accountable under the law.

The MP further called on the GTA to petition the West Bengal government for the immediate formation of a subordinate selection committee, as well as regional SSC and CSC. He emphasized the need to complete the qualification tests for vacant teaching positions before the start of the new academic session in February/March 2026. He also requested that genuine volunteer teachers be provided special relief during these tests.

Finally, Bista reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the volunteer teachers in their fight for justice. "The GTA must appeal to the higher judiciary with the facts to ensure the livelihoods of real volunteer teachers are protected. As a Member of Parliament, I am ready to offer my full support to secure their livelihoods through legal means," he concluded in the press release.