Thiruvananthapuram: When the 110 supernumerary posts of junior English teachers at the government higher secondary schools get cancelled on 31 March, forty-seven teachers who were appointed as per the court order too would lose their jobs. Many among them who have received the advice memo for appointment from the Kerala Public Service Commission are to join the service in the coming days. However, they now face the misfortune of losing their jobs immediately after getting appointed.
The Supreme Court had upheld the High Court order to appoint the forty-seven candidates included in the HSST (Junior) English teacher rank list that had expired on 2016 December, but was later extended. The Kerala Cabinet had decided to create 110 supernumerary posts this academic year, in order to accommodate these forty-seven candidates and also to retain the excess staff.
The remaining sixty-three candidates who were assimilated into the supernumerary posts had been staring at losing their jobs since the post determination that was held last academic year. These teachers have been working since 2021 July.
The government decision
Around forty English teacher posts would fall vacant when teachers retire until May. If the teachers who might lose their jobs, are retained in the supernumerary posts, they could be immediately appointed to these posts. Besides, there are lots of regular teachers who work on deputation at BRC and SSK. The teachers’ associations point out that these candidates could be appointed to the posts that have fallen vacant after teachers opted for deputation. The concept that government jobs are secure has taken a hit as the candidates who got appointments via PSC now face termination. The teaching community is worried whether this would become a precedent, posing threat to job security.