Niyojit Teachers to Retain Jobs Despite Competency Test Results: Patna HC

In a significant development from Patna, the Patna High Court, on Tuesday, clarified the position regarding the future of Niyojit teachers in Bihar amidst concerns over their job security following the introduction of competency tests. The bench, led by Chief Justice K. Vinod Chandran and Justice Harish Kumar, addressed a series of petitions concerning the employment conditions of these contractual teachers under the new Exclusive Teachers Rules-2023.

The court's ruling brought relief to approximately 3.5 lakh contractual teachers in Bihar, affirming that failure to pass the newly mandated competency tests would not result in termination from their positions. This decision marks a departure from previous rules set in 2006, 2010, and 2012, which had stipulated termination after two unsuccessful attempts at an efficiency test.

The Exclusive Teachers Rules-2023 introduced by the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government require Niyojit teachers to pass competency examinations to gain government employee status. The rules provide each teacher with five attempts to clear these tests—three online and two offline. The court observed that these measures aim to recognize and improve service conditions for those demonstrating competence while ensuring continued employment for those who do not qualify or choose not to attempt the tests.

Despite the introduction of these rules, the advocate general highlighted a challenge: many Niyojit teachers who qualified as state school teachers under the new regulations have declined positions due to postings in other districts. The Niyojit teachers were initially appointed under the Bihar Panchayat Primary Teacher Appointment and Service Conditions Rules, 2006 (Primary Teacher Rules 2006) and were later governed by the Bihar Panchayat Teachers Rules, 2012 (Panchayat Teachers Rules-2012).

Senior JDU leader and Bihar parliamentary affairs minister, Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, responded to the Patna High Court's order by emphasizing that the state government had no intention of terminating Niyojit teachers who failed or refrained from taking the competency tests. He stated that this clarification from the High Court counters misleading information circulated by certain groups about the fate of Niyojit teachers under the Exclusive Teachers Rules-2023.

This ruling not only secures the positions of thousands of contractual teachers in Bihar but also underscores the state government's commitment to enhancing educational standards through competency-based evaluations without compromising on job security for existing educators.