SHIMLA: The High Court of Himachal Pradesh  today dismissed the petitions seeking directions to fill-up the posts of “Shastri Teachers” strictly in accordance with the norms as laid down by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).

The Notification dated 29.07.2011 and not on the basis of the Notification issued by the State Government on 29.09.2020 which, according to them, is in violation of the instructions of the NCTE.

A Division Bench comprising Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Virender Singh, passed this order on a petition filed by the petitioners who are qualified B.Ed.

They have sought a direction to the respondents to fill-up the posts of “Shastri Teachers” strictly in accordance with the  Notification dated 29.07.2011 issued by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) and not on the basis of the Notification issued by the State Government on 29.09.2020 which, according to them, is in violation of the instructions of the NCTE.

The sole controversy which came up for consideration before the Court in the instant petition was whether the NCTE has correctly and legally included B.Ed. as an essential qualification for eligibility of appointment to the posts of “Shastri Teachers”

The State which had earlier conceded to the claim of the petitioners now opposed the same on the basis of the records produced by the NCTE relating to the issuance of the Notification dated 29.07.2011. 

It is now averred that the NCTE had inserted B.Ed. qualification for Language Teacher merely on the direction of the MHRD, without there being any independent application of mind by the NCTE.

To similar effect is the stand taken by the private respondents, who do not hold or possess the B.Ed. Degree. The Court found no merit in the petitions and dismissed the same.