With hundreds of teachers still caught in the prolonged fallout of Meghalaya’s controversial education scam, the state government has underscored that the reinstatement of nearly 140 teachers was the outcome of court directions followed by a detailed examination. Emphasising that the issue remains legally sensitive and cannot be addressed through unilateral executive action, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the government is again seeking judicial clearance to undertake a fresh review, even as it remains in regular touch with affected teachers, with the entire exercise now under Chief Secretary–level (CS-level) scrutiny.
“Tainted teachers in Education Scam : We are in fact, if you recall that every time, the Supreme Court or Highcourt has given us an opportunity to review, we have reviewed. And if you remember last time, I’m giving you whatever I can remember. That roughly about close to in the first assessment close to about 140 teachers were reinstated back. So the court gave us that order. Gave us that option and we went in and looked in and we have said that we found 140 of them to be Are not really involved in these aspects and we gave the suggestion and based on that, they were reinstated,” Sangma said.
He explained that the process did not end there, as a subsequent judicial direction led to another round of scrutiny by the state. “Again in the second phase, the the high court or , the Supreme Court I can remember again to look into another aspect. We looked into it and again in that also about four five. So this was done by the chief secret level and the court gives us that order,” the Chief Minister added, indicating that each step was undertaken strictly at the behest of the judiciary and examined at the highest administrative level.
Sangma said the government is now seeking a similar legal mandate to consider the remaining cases, stressing that it cannot act unilaterally given the multiple legal questions still pending. “So similarly now also in this particular case we are asking the Supreme Court. A high court to give us a mandate and give us a clearance. As we can review this again and we would be very happy to take you if there are genuine cases and people who have been Effective, uh, in a way that is not correct. Then obviously we’d like we can do that,” he said.
Emphasising the complexity of the matter, the Chief Minister made it clear that any decision must stand on firm legal ground. “So but since it is a subject that has got different aspects of law and case and different issues that are still involved. We cannot take a decision just on our own level. So, so we’ll have to wait,” he said.
At the same time, Sangma sought to reassure affected teachers that the government has not turned a blind eye to their concerns. “But we are in In touch, with the teachers, they have met me a couple of times. The regularly meet me and we are trying to work out on how we can move forward. I have ask Chief secretary already to examine the options. He is working on it,” the Chief Minister stated.
