Port Blair, Aug 12: Mr. B.P Ray, Member of Parliament, Andaman and Nicobar Islands in his letter addressed to the Chief Secretary has requested his intervention into the matter of relaxation of age for appointment of teachers under SSA.
Mr. Ray informed the Chief Secretary that he had taken up the issue regarding relaxation of age limit for appointment of contract SSA teachers vide his letter No.30/BPR/MP/ANI/LG/2013/626 dated 01.O8.2013 addressed to Lt. Governor, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He further informed him that the Education Department has examined the case and arbitrarily concluded that Lt. Governor does not have power to provide relaxation in age.
In this context he informed the Chief Secretary that similar relaxation was allowed by the Education Department in the year 2009-10 and 2010-11 Moreover, all the Recruitment Rules of A & N Administration invariably reserves a clause under the heading “Power to Relax”, which empowers the Lt. Governor to relax age, qualification etc. He further informed that there are a number of cases in which relaxation in age and qualification was allowed with the approval of Lt. Governor.
He further informed him that he is perturbed to learn that the Education Department is conducting the interview for selection in a hurried manner on 12.8.2013 without considering the request for age relaxation. The request for relaxation of age is demanded in the best interest of Education for the Islands, as there are a large number of highly qualified, experienced (above 30 years of age) teachers available in the Islands for competitive selection.
Mr. Ray requested the intervention of the Chief Secretary into the matter and requested him to direct the Education Department to postpone the interview and if it is already conducted; the proceedings may kindly be kept in abeyance till consideration of the request for age relaxation is finalized.
