HC confirms 30% quota for D.Ed students

By S A Ishaqui

Hyderabad, July 5: A division bench comprising Justice Goda Raghuram and Justice R. Kantha Rao of the AP High Court on Monday confirmed an interim order passed by the AP Administrative Tribunal with regard to providing 30 per cent reservation to D.Ed candidates during the selection of secondary grade teachers under DSC 2008.

The bench was dealing with a writ petition filed by the state government challenging the interim order of the APAT delivered on June 28. The bench dismissed the plea of the government.

The government contended that the amendment made in GO Ms No. 28 providing reservations to D.Ed candidates will not have retrospective operation and it cannot be applied to the notification already issued for DSC 2008.

The government issued a notification on December 6, 2008, to fill up 50,000 posts for school assistants and secondary grade teachers. Later, the government incorporated a proviso to the GO Ms No. 28, by providing 30 per cent reservation for D.Ed candidates and it triggered a legal battle between B.Ed and D.Ed candidates.

The candidates holding B.Ed degree challenged the reservation rule before the APAT and their cases were dismissed. They approached the High Court and the High Court struck down the reservation for D.Ed candidates. Then the matter was taken to the Supreme Court, which stayed the High Court order.

Recently the government announced a schedule to fill up vacancies notified under DSC 2008 and issued GO MS No. 27, in May without providing reservations for D.Ed candidates. The D.Ed candidates then approached the APAT.

The government contended that the rule of reservation was set aside by the High Court and mere suspension of that judgment by the Supreme Court by way of interim orders cannot revive the Rule.