Protest Erupts Over Reservation Discrepancies in Uttar Pradesh Teacher Recruitment

Lucknow, November 2 (Daily Kiran) : Hundreds of candidates have intensified their protest in Lucknow over alleged discrepancies in the reservation process for the recruitment of 68,500 assistant teachers in Uttar Pradesh. For the past 63 days, these individuals have been staging a sit-in at Eco Garden, but on Monday, they took their demands directly to the assembly, calling for the release of revised results and the appointment of eligible candidates.

The situation escalated when candidates, who have been on a hunger strike for the past week, sat on the road to demonstrate their frustration. Police intervened, forcibly removing them and escorting them back to Eco Garden, leading to heated confrontations.

Protesters argue that the recruitment process failed to apply the appropriate eligibility standards for the general and other backward classes (OBC). They claim that OBC candidates were not granted the benefits of reservation as mandated, resulting in many being deprived of their rightful opportunities. They have accused the authorities of ignoring the Basic Education Rules, Uttar Pradesh Reservation Rules, and NCTE guidelines.

The candidates have presented evidence to various bodies, including the State Backward Class Commission and the National Backward Class Commission. They assert that these organizations have issued recommendations in their favor. Their demand is clear: revise the results by applying a minimum score of 60 out of 150—equating to 40 percent eligibility—and ensure appointments for qualified candidates.

Leaders of the protest, Tufaan Singh and Ashutosh Verma, noted that the issue was discussed in a meeting on September 10, led by Basic Education Minister Sandeep Singh. Despite assurances that the candidates’ concerns would be brought to the Chief Minister’s attention, no concrete decisions have been made to date.

Over the past two months, protesters have submitted memorandums to several representatives, including Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya and Basic Education Minister Sandeep Singh, yet they claim no action has followed these assurances.

Candidate Ranjana Jaiswal, who traveled from a district in the state, expressed her determination to continue the protest despite various challenges, emphasizing the fight for justice. The protest coordinator, Naveen Chaudhary, clarified that their movement is not politically motivated but is focused on constitutional rights, reservation entitlements, and appointments. They are also calling for a fair investigation into the officials responsible for the reservation discrepancies, vowing to maintain their peaceful protest until a solid written response is received from the government.