In a landmark decision  the double bench of the Allahabad High Court abolished the merit list for the recruitment of 69,000 primary teachers in Uttar Pradesh. The court has directed the state government to produce a new merit list within three months, ensuring it complies with Basic Education Rules and Reservation Guidelines. The case centered on irregularities in the reservation process that had long been under judicial review. Notably, Section 13 of the Act states that the EWS Act does not apply to recruitment processes that began before the Act’s commencement.

Uttar Pradesh teacher recruitment timeline

The recruitment process began in December 2018 with an advertisement for 69,000 primary teacher positions in Uttar Pradesh. By 2019, the exam attracted 410,000 candidates, and in 2020, the results showed that 147,000 of them passed. Among them, 110,000 were from reserved categories.

Issues with the recruitment process

The recruitment, based on this merit list, faced scrutiny when it was alleged that around 19,000 reserved category candidates did not receive the benefits of reservation. This led to legal challenges questioning the fairness of the recruitment process.

High Court cancels Teachers Recruitment Merit List

The Allahabad High Court has ordered the cancellation of the merit list for the 69,000 teacher recruitment. Despite the Uttar Pradesh government’s assertion that the process followed the rules, the court’s ruling necessitates the preparation of a new merit list within three months, with strict adherence to reservation policies and educational regulations to ensure a fair and transparent recruitment process.