Agartala, 30 April, 2013: The post reserved for SC/ST will be dereserve in the recruitment process of Higher Education for the teaching post of Assistant Professor. This is was said by the Minister of Higher Education, Mr Banulala Saha during the felicitation programme held at RK Mahavidyalaya, Kailashahar on 18 April, 2013. Mr Saha said that due to unavailability of SC/ST candidates for the post of Assistant Professor, 50% of the seats reserved for SC/ST will be likely dereserve.

As the news of dereservation of SC/ST vacancies in the Higher Education recruitment spread there was a resentment among the public. The news has not been taken well by the SC/ST communities. A delegation of SC/ST NET/SLET qualified candidates yesterday met to the Principle Secretary, Higher Education, Mr K Ambully to voice their concern. Mr Ambully said that the matter will be finalised only after consent letter is received from the Department of SC Welfare and Tribal Welfare. The delegation also submitted the list of qualified SC/ST candidates.

Later the delegates met the Director of SC Welfare and Tribal Welfare. It is has been reported that the Director of SC Welfare has already given the consent for the dereservation of vacancies. However the Director of Tribal Welfare Mr LH Darlong has assured the delegates that no such consent is been given yet to any department as of now and further said that the decision will be taken only after meeting with the minister and concerns.

The issue of Dereservation of SC/ST vacancies is not new in Tripura. Even in the recruitment of Assistant Professor in the previous recruitment drive, seats reserved for SC/ST were made open to general candidates.