GUWAHATI, June 25 � Following a directive from the Gauhati High Court, the Government of Assam, has through an office memorandum, issued guidelines concerning recruitment of principals in higher secondary schools and qualifications for the post.
The guidelines, in strict accordance with provisions of the Assam Secondary Education (Provincialized) Service Rules-2003, and the Assam Secondary Education (Provincialized) Service (Amendment) Rules-2012, said the posts of principal in provincialized higher secondary schools shall be filled by direct recruitment, and that the candidates must be MA/MSc/MCom with BT/BEd degree from any recognised university and having a uniform good academic career.
Ironically, the Government had earlier issued a guideline and sought to place in-charge principals in higher secondary schools by simply saying that for recruitment, master degree and BT/BEd were not insisted upon by the Secondary Education Directorate.
The court, while intervening in the matter following a case (WP-C No.1491/2014) filed by the Higher Secondary Postgraduate BEd Teachers� Association and two others, observed that a circular cannot override the existing rules in force, and besides, �it is too fundamental to state that a candidate eligible in terms of relevant rules for promotion to a post on a regular basis cannot be overlooked for the purpose of any temporary arrangement concerning the post.�
Following the court�s intervention, the Government through its notification dated June 24, 2014, stated, ��it has been observed by the Government that BT/BEd degree is essential at the present prevailing situation. It has also been seen that NCTE regulations have also prescribed the Master Degree with BT/BEd degree or an equivalent course as minimum qualification for teachers in respect of senior higher secondary schools.�
At present, the petitioners, i.e., the Higher Secondary Postgraduate BEd Teachers� Association has around 800 active members in its roll and around 3,000 members all over the State, and thus it is sufficient to fill up the vacant posts of principals in all the provincialized HS schools of Assam.
Advocates SK Das and B Sarma represented the petitioners.
