TRBT Chairman Pratyosh Ranjan Deb clarifies that delays in recruiting TET-qualified teachers were caused by court cases and legal complications, with experts working to resolve issues and publish the recommended candidate list without triggering further legal challenges.
The Teachers Recruitment Board, Tripura (TRBT) has clarified that the delay in the recruitment process of TET-qualified aspirants was not deliberate, but resulted from legal complications arising from multiple court cases and judgments of the High Court of Tripura.
TRBT Chairman Pratyosh Ranjan Deb, speaking on Thursday, said the perception that the recruitment board had intentionally delayed the process was incorrect. According to him, the board has been working to resolve the legal issues and ensure that the recommended list of candidates can be published without creating further complications.
Deb said he had repeatedly informed the aspirants that TRBT was not responsible for the delay. He explained that two specific judgments had created difficulties in finalising the recruitment process, following which the board sought legal advice from experts to determine the appropriate course of action.
“On multiple occasions, I have told the aspirants that TRBT was not responsible for the delay. The delay was actually caused by the legal complications arising out of court cases filed against the board,” Deb said.
According to the TRBT chairman, the recruitment process could have been completed by now, but implementing changes to examination results in accordance with court directions required careful consideration. He said making modifications without examining their wider implications could potentially lead to additional legal challenges.
One of the complications relates to TET Paper I for Undergraduate Teacher (UGT) recruitment. Deb said nine aspirants had approached the High Court seeking correction of the final answer key. The court subsequently ruled in their favour and directed TRBT to award one additional mark to each of the petitioners.
However, Deb pointed out that a total of 2,929 candidates had appeared for the examination. Awarding additional marks to only the nine petitioners could potentially prompt other candidates to challenge the decision, creating another round of legal complications.
“This is related to TET Paper I, for UGT teachers,” Deb explained, highlighting the difficulty involved in implementing the court’s direction while considering its possible impact on other candidates.
A similar legal issue has also emerged in connection with TET Paper II. According to Deb, a separate case was filed in relation to the paper, involving 43 petitioners.
The TRBT chairman said the board was therefore proceeding cautiously, taking into account both the existing court directions and the possible future implications of any changes made to the results.
He said legal experts were currently examining the matters and advising the board on how to proceed. The objective, according to Deb, is to resolve the issues in a manner that allows the recruitment process to move forward while avoiding further legal disputes.
“Considering the legal complications and future implications of the steps we are going to take, we are being very careful in handling the issue and trying to resolve it in a way that no future legal complications arise,” Deb said.
| Also Read: CAG-ICSSR colloquium discusses public finance, audit and urban waste management |
The clarification comes amid concerns among TET-qualified aspirants over the prolonged recruitment process. The board’s explanation indicates that the publication of the recommended list remains linked to the resolution of the legal and procedural issues surrounding the examination results.
