Fill posts of Shastri as per norms: Himachal Pradesh High Court

Shimla, December 29

The HP High Court has restrained the Education Department from appointing any candidate on the post of ‘Shastri’, either on batch-wise basis or through the HP Staff Selection Commission, without adhering to the requirements of the National Council for Teachers Education (NCTE).

A division bench, comprising of Chief Justice Mohammad Rafiq and Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua, further directed the state authorities to file specific affidavit as to why, despite the undertaking given by them, the Recruitment and Promotion Rules for the post of Shastri had not been amended so far, in conformity with the norms of the NCTE.

The court passed this order yesterday on a batch of petitions filed in this regard. It further directed the state to inform the court by filing an affidavit mentioning therein as to how many candidates without B.Ed degree were appointed from 2012 to September, 23, 2018, even after issuance of notification by the NCTE, whereby it had made B.Ed a mandatory qualification.

It further directed the state to also explain whether after 2018, batch-wise appointments to the post of Shastri were/are being made without the candidates possessing the Diploma in Elementary Education/B.Ed degree, an essential qualification as per the notification of the NCTE.

While passing this order the court listed the matters for further hearing after four weeks. — OC