BIG relief: Orissa HC clears decks for appointment of 11,403 initial appointee teachers

In a major relief for job aspirants, the Orissa High Court has refused to entertain a batch of petitions filed against a recruitment advertisement published by the Directorate of Secondary Education (DSE), Odisha thus paving the way for the appointment of 11,403 initial appointee teachers.

A single bench of Justice SK Panigrahi on Thursday put aside the writ petitions filed by Lalatendu Mishra and others challenging the recruitment drive.

On December 23, 2021, the Directorate of Secondary Education (DSE), Odisha had published a notification for the recruitment of 11,403 initial appointee teachers in secondary schools in the State. 

Under the recruitment drive, the DSE intends to fill up 3308 posts of TGT Arts, 2370 posts of TGT Science (PCM), 1544 posts of TGT Science (CBZ), 1753 posts of Hindi Teacher, 1188 posts of Sanskrit Teacher, 22 posts of Telugu Teacher and 1218 posts of Physical Education Teacher. 

Last month, the DSE had come up with the draft merit list of candidates shortlisted for recruitment.

However, the petitioners had moved the Orissa High Court challenging the recruitment while alleging that the advertisement does not conform to the provisions of the Odisha Reservation of Vacancies in Posts and Services (For Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Act, 1975.

The petitioners contended that the advertisement for recruitment of Initial Appointee Teachers in Government Secondary Schools of Odisha on contractual basis is liable to be set aside as it is arbitrary, for it does not prescribe a minimum pass mark for the Computer Based Test.

"Further, in one of the Writ Petitions, it has been contended that the State Government has utilized the services of an alleged blacklisted company for conducting the Computer Based Competitive examination which suffers from the vice of mala fide," the petitioners argued. 

However, the HC bench refused to grant relief to the petitioners and disposed of the petitions. 

"I have no hesitation in coming to the conclusion that the petitioners cannot be granted any relief in these Writ Petitions and the present Writ Petitions are liable to be dismissed, being devoid of merit," Justice Panigrahi stated.