Parliament Approves Teachers Reservation Bill To Fill Up 7,000 Vacancies

The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers’ Cadre) Bill, 2019, replacing the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers’ Cadre) Ordinance, 2019, was passed in Rajya Sabha on 3^rd July 4, 2019, after it was passed in Lok Sabha on 1st July 2019.

According to HRD minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, this bill will allow Universities or colleges to be considered as a unit instead of the department while providing reservation for filling up the existing over 7,000 vacancies in the central universities.

Highlights:

• 10 per cent provision is added in the reservation for Economically Weaker Section (EWS).
• Government of India has already approved an allocation of over Rs. 770 crores.
• Ensure Constitutional Provisions of Articles 14, 16 and 21 compliance.
• Introduces a 200-point roster system. This will the university or other educational institution the unit, not the department, for reservation of posts in direct recruitment in teachers’ cadre.
• Direct recruitment of ST (Scheduled Tribes), SC (Scheduled Caste), socially and Economically Backward Classes and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in teachers’ cadre in 41 Central Education institutions.

The emergence of the teacher reservation issue

“An individual department should be considered as the base unit to calculate the number of teaching posts to be reserved for the purpose of reservation for ST and SC in universities”, ordered by Allahabad High Court, April 2017.

The order was then challenged in the Supreme Court. HRD Ministry filed a review petition in February this year was also dismissed by the court welcoming massive protests from teachers and students across the country. It was feared that this could lower the numbers of reserved seats in universities and other colleges.

The Cabinet cleared an ordinance on reservation mechanism in March, describing the bill as the beginning of a new era in the education sector, introducing new reforms for society’ needs. Education is a top tier parameter and the quality of the institute and the people there are vital for ensuring the progress of the country.