June 19th 2024.
The Orissa High Court made a decision on Tuesday regarding the recruitment of junior teachers in primary and upper primary schools. They upheld the merit list created by the Odisha School Education Programme Authority (OSEPA) in January of this year. This verdict came after petitions were filed challenging the order of a single-judge bench to prepare a new merit list for the recruitment process. The division bench, consisting of Chief Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh and Justice Murahari Sri Raman, directed the authorities to proceed with the recruitment based on the current merit list. They also emphasized the importance of prioritizing district preference in the hiring process.
As per sources, OSEPA had announced job openings for junior teachers in primary and upper primary schools in the state on September 10, 2023. The draft merit list was published on January 15, and document verification was scheduled for January 20 and 21. However, a group of petitions was filed in the court, questioning the merit list's validity. They argued that the School and Mass Education department's guidelines from August 22, 2023, stated that a district-wise draft merit list should be prepared.
It was revealed that OSEPA had published a single merit list without following the proper procedure, which had a negative impact on many students. In an interim order, the single-judge bench of the HC allowed document verification but prohibited OSEPA from making final selections and appointments. In March of this year, the bench ordered OSEPA to create a new draft merit list for the appointment of over 18,000 junior teachers in primary and upper primary schools. This ruling was made after examining new information provided by the state government and OSEPA.
After careful consideration, the division bench decided to modify the previous order given by the single-judge bench. This was done in light of the fresh information presented, and the court found it appropriate to maintain the current merit list for the recruitment process. The judges also urged OSEPA to adhere to the district-wise draft merit list in the future to avoid any discrepancies and ensure fairness in the selection process. With this decision, the recruitment of junior teachers in primary and upper primary schools in Orissa can now move forward with clarity and fairness.
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