LG Baijal, Sisodia spar over recruitment of guest teachers

NEW DELHI: The issue of teachers' recruitment in Delhi government schools has triggered another face-off between the AAP government and the Lieutenant Governor, as both the offices have contradictory views on providing weightage to guest teachers. The L-G Anil Baijal is of the opinion that granting of weightage in marks to a category of candidates is violative of the constitutional rights under article 14 and 16 of the Constitution.

However, the Deputy CM and the Education Minister Manish Sisodia believes that the guest teachers must be given weightage as they have experience of teaching in government schools.

The controversy erupted after a meeting between Sisodia and Baijal on Thursday, after which the Deputy CM took to Twitter and expressed his disappointment. "Deeply disturbed by meeting with @LtGovDelhi today. Despite directions of Hon'ble HC, @LtGovDelhi is not willing to enter into dialogue on issue of Guest Teachers. Why can't experience be considered? (sic)," Sisodia tweeted. The Deputy CM also posted the letter, which he wrote to the LG after the meeting, on the micro blogging site.

Sisodia, in his letter, said, "High Court in its last hearing on a matter related to teacher recruitment had directed that you and I should put our heads together and resolve the issue of Guest Teachers. But when I came to meet you today to discuss the matter, I was deeply disturbed to find that you were not willing to even discuss the issue."

"I had brought with me all the case law on the issue, but you were not even willing to look at it. You said to me that the decision on this issue is your prerogative and you were firm on the stand that there was no scope for discussion," Sisodia added.

The Deputy CM also reiterated that the service 'might be under the purview' of the L-G, but education is a subject under the 'purview of the elected government'.