SHILLONG, Feb 21 � The Meghalaya Law department has given the nod to the Education department to terminate the services of 245 primary school teachers who were appointed in a controversial manner under then Education Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh in 2010.
In this infamous case, also known as the Education scam of Meghalaya, many of the appointed teachers were allegedly appointed at the behest of Lyngdoh, who now holds the Urban Affairs portfolio, and other politicians and influential people, by deleting the names of genuine candidates who passed the interview and examination for the posts.
The matter was brought before the Court and subsequently the CBI probed and found that 255 teachers, out of 350, were appointed in a controversial manner and indicted Lyngdoh and other officials from the Education department for their role in the appointments. However, the CBI report was set aside and the State Government instituted its own inquiry called the High Level Scrutiny Committee (HLSC).
The HLSC earlier this year issued show cause notices to over 200 teachers asking them why their services should not be terminated and sought their reply by January 10. After this process was over, the Law department was consulted which gave its nod for termination of the services of these teachers.
�The Law department has given the go ahead to the Education department to terminate the services of 245 candidates,� a source said. The decision to terminate the �tainted� teachers has been kept in abeyance due to the upcoming District Council elections in Khasi-Jaintia Hills slated on February 24.
