Shillong, Dec 3:The Hynñiewtrep Youths’ Council (HYC) has written to the Chief Minister, Education Minister and Chief Secretary over the plight of the teachers tainted by the so-called White Ink Scam, requesting that the government take measures to rehabilitate them after the legal case against then Education Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh and other respondents collapsed.
On September 4 the High Court of Meghalaya quashed criminal proceedings against Lyngdoh and senior officials of the Education Department, ruling that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case. The ‘scam’ went back to 2008-09 when recruitment to lower primary school teaching positions was marred by allegations that corruption had played a part in getting candidates selected for the government posts.
However, even though legal proceedings have ended, those candidates from more than a decade and a half ago still carry the “tainted” tag with them.
“Many of them remain unemployed, having lost their rightful opportunity to serve as teachers,” the HYC said. “Their “tainted” designation continues to carry social stigma, depriving them of dignity, livelihood and professional growth. Till date, there is no transparent communication or official statement from the government clarifying whether the High Court’s judgment automatically nullifies the “tainted” classification and entitles the discharged individuals or other affected candidates to reinstatement, compensation, or fresh recruitment.”
The pressure group called on the government to make an official statement on the “tainted” designation, review all the “tainted” cases from 2008-09, introduce a redressal mechanism, etc.
