Shimla: The teacher recruitment process for government schools being affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in Himachal Pradesh has been challenged before the Himachal Pradesh High Court.
A joint front of various teacher associations has filed a petition against the selection procedure. On Tuesday, a Division Bench comprising Justice Vivek Singh Thakur and Justice Vipin Chander Negi heard the matter and issued notices to the respondents, directing them to file their reply before March 12. The next hearing is scheduled for March 12.
Government’s Decision to Affiliate 134 Schools with CBSE
The government led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has decided to affiliate 134 government schools with CBSE. Teachers posted in state government schools are to be appointed in these CBSE-affiliated institutions through a newly prescribed selection process.
As per the notification, teachers will have to undergo an objective-type test, which is scheduled to be held on March 22. The petition challenging the process has been filed ahead of the examination.
The State Government, the Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education (HPBOSE), and CBSE have been made parties in the case.
Objections to the Selection Process
Senior Advocate Sanjeev Bhushan, representing the Teachers’ Joint Front, submitted before the court that the teachers have no objection to the policy decision of affiliating schools with CBSE. However, they have serious concerns about the recruitment procedure adopted for appointing teachers.
He argued that teachers who were selected through the Commission and have been serving for several years should not be compelled to undergo a fresh selection process. Conducting recruitment solely on the basis of a single objective-type test is unjustified and may adversely affect the morale of experienced teachers.
Concern Over Role of HPBOSE
The petition also contends that while the government is affiliating schools with CBSE, it is simultaneously conducting the objective-type examination through HPBOSE, which appears contradictory.
Considering that the examination is scheduled for March 22, the High Court has directed the State Government to file its response before March 12. The matter will now be taken up for further hearing on that date.
