The ongoing primary teacher recruitment in Uttarakhand has once again become entangled in legal complications, raising uncertainty over the appointment process for 1,670 posts across the state. With thousands of vacancies already pending in the education department, the latest recruitment drive has now reached the Supreme Court, further delaying relief for government primary schools.
A total of 61,861 candidates have applied for recruitment in government primary schools. Under existing rules, BEd candidates are not eligible for appointment as primary teachers. However, BEd-qualified candidates who have completed a six-month bridge course have approached the Supreme Court, seeking inclusion in the recruitment process. The petitioners have argued that they should be treated as equivalent to candidates holding a two-year DElEd qualification.
The case has placed the education department in a difficult position. On one hand, untrained teachers working in various schools across the state have been allowed to teach Classes 1 to 5 after completing DElEd training from the National Institute of Open Schooling. On the other hand, a Supreme Court order dated August 11, 2023, clearly stated that BEd candidates are not eligible for primary teacher recruitment, creating a direct legal contradiction that continues to stall the process.
The petition has been filed by Mamta Pal and others, who had earlier approached the High Court. After their plea was rejected there, they moved the Supreme Court, keeping the recruitment process under a legal cloud. This recurring litigation highlights how almost every primary teacher recruitment exercise in Uttarakhand ends up facing judicial hurdles.
Meanwhile, DElEd-qualified candidates are demanding that the recruitment for 1,670 posts be completed without further delay. They argue that prolonged legal disputes only complicate the process and unfairly impact candidates who meet all eligibility norms. Their concern is that repeated court interventions could derail the recruitment entirely.
As per the schedule, counselling for the primary teacher recruitment will be held simultaneously in all districts on January 12. The education department has clarified that this system will prevent candidates from securing selection in more than one district. However, the Supreme Court proceedings have cast doubt over whether the process will move ahead smoothly.
Following the matter reaching the apex court, the Directorate of Education has written to the state government, requesting the appointment of an Advocate-on-Record to effectively represent the department’s position. Until a clear legal resolution emerges, the recruitment remains suspended between court orders and administrative indecision.
