Tripura CM Manik Saha has urged TET Paper-I-qualified candidates protesting outside Siksha Bhavan to end their sit-in, assuring them that the government is addressing recruitment demands amid pending High Court cases and complications over examination answer keys.
Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha has urged candidates who qualified in the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) Paper-I to withdraw their ongoing sit-in demonstration outside Siksha Bhavan, assuring them that the state government is aware of their demand for immediate recruitment and will take necessary steps to resolve the matter.
The candidates have been staging a protest demanding recruitment to elementary school teaching posts after qualifying in TET Paper-I. The demonstration continued during the Durga Puja festivities, with protesters seeking an early decision from the authorities regarding their appointments.
Responding to the agitation, Chief Minister Saha appealed to the candidates to maintain faith in the government and discontinue their sit-in, stating that continuing the demonstration would cause inconvenience to both the public and the protesters.
“I would urge them to have faith. I do not think there is any need to continue the agitation in this manner. The government is aware of the matter, and we will certainly do what is necessary,” Saha said.
The Chief Minister emphasised that the government was sensitive to people’s concerns and would take appropriate action whenever required. He maintained that the candidates should allow the authorities to address the issue rather than continue the demonstration.
However, the recruitment process for TET Paper-I qualifiers has reportedly been delayed due to legal complications, with the matter currently sub judice before the Tripura High Court.
According to official sources, several cases concerning the correctness of examination questions and answers are also pending before the High Court. These legal proceedings have complicated the finalisation of the recruitment process and the preparation of the merit list.
Recently, the High Court directed the Teachers’ Recruitment Board, Tripura (TRBT), which conducts teacher recruitment examinations, to award additional marks to certain candidates who had challenged the correctness of an answer published in the board’s final answer key.
The court’s intervention has reportedly created further complications for the recruitment process. If marks are revised in accordance with the court’s directions, the existing merit list may need to be recalculated and revised.
The issue assumes significance because approximately 3,000 candidates reportedly attempted the question under dispute. Any change in the marks awarded could affect the ranking of candidates and the overall selection list, making it necessary for the recruiting authority to ensure that the final results comply with the court’s directions.
Sources in the education department indicated that efforts were underway to resolve the matter as quickly as possible so that recruitment offers could be distributed. However, the process remains linked to the outcome of the pending legal proceedings and the necessary corrections to the evaluation and merit list.
The delay has left successful TET Paper-I candidates awaiting appointments to elementary-level teaching posts, prompting them to demand immediate action from the government.
The situation differs from the recruitment process for TET Paper-II and the Selection Test for Graduate Teachers (STGT), for which appointment offers have recently been distributed to selected candidates. These recruits will serve as graduate teachers in secondary schools.
TET Paper-I, by contrast, is conducted for candidates seeking appointment as undergraduate teachers in elementary schools. The recruitment process is therefore important for both aspiring teachers and efforts to strengthen staffing at the elementary education level.
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The latest appeal from Chief Minister Saha comes as the government faces pressure from the protesting candidates to expedite recruitment while complying with the judicial process. The administration is expected to address the issue through the relevant authorities, with the final appointment process dependent on resolving the outstanding legal and evaluation-related complications.
For now, the TET Paper-I qualifiers continue to seek a clear timeline for recruitment, while the Chief Minister has urged them to end their sit-in and place their trust in the government’s efforts to resolve the matter.
