Shillong, Dec 3: The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) has urged the Meghalaya Government to review the status of teachers labelled “tainted” in connection with the 2008–09 Lower Primary teacher recruitment case, following the Meghalaya High Court’s September 4, 2025 judgment that quashed criminal proceedings against the accused due to lack of evidence.
In a letter submitted to Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Wednesday, HYC president Roykupar Synrem called for an official clarification on whether the “tainted” designation will now be reviewed or removed. The organisation has also demanded reinstatement and compensation for those affected by the termination of appointments arising from the recruitment controversy.
“We demand the government to clarify whether the ‘tainted’ tag imposed on certain teachers/candidates will now be reviewed or removed in the wake of the High Court’s judgment discharging the accused persons,” Synrem stated. He suggested setting up a special Review and Reinstatement Committee under the Directorate of School Education and Literacy to handle all cases in a time-bound manner.
The High Court ruling discharged the principal accused, including former education officials, citing absence of reliable proof of score manipulation, no evidence of “white ink” tampering and consistency in the tabulation sheet signatures—casting doubt on the allegations.
The 2008–09 LP teacher recruitment was marred by allegations of irregularities, resulting in many selected candidates being classified as “tainted,” leading to cancellation of appointment orders and terminations. While some were reinstated over the years, including around 187 candidates in 2021, the majority have reportedly received no relief.
Synrem said that despite the complete judicial discharge of key accused persons, the government has not issued any communication on whether the judgment nullifies the “tainted” status. He added that the ongoing uncertainty has caused social stigma, psychological distress and economic loss for affected individuals.
“The lack of clear direction undermines trust in the system and raises questions about fairness, justice and rule of law,” the HYC asserted, urging immediate government intervention.
