Master cadre teachers move court over being ignored for promotions

The master cadre teachers from Punjab who raised objections over cases not being considered for promotions by the Education Department have now moved the High Court against the department’s order of promoting teachers, but excluding several master cadre teachers again. The issue had prevailed since the Education Department cancelled promotions of 688 government school teachers, among whom were several left out cases of promotions from master cadre. Twenty five teachers (master cadre) from across Punjab, who were eligible for promotions but were ignored, have moved the court, demanding promotion.

“There are several teachers from master cadre, who despite clearing the eligibility for seniority and other requirement, have been waiting for promotions for three to six years. My promotion was due since 2022, but this opportunity was for us to ensure that we get our due. Now, once again we have been left out and our juniors, who have been promoted, will gain seniority over us. This is injustice to teachers who have been serving in the department for the last 18-20 years and are about to retire,” said Iqbal Singh, a master cadre teacher of Punjabi, from Government High School, Sultanwind.

The ‘left-out cases’ of promotions have blamed the three-member committee formed by the Education Department to recommend promotions for the earlier fiasco. “Several ineligible candidates made it to the first list of 688 cases of promotions, but now genuine cases have to suffer. Despite several appeals to the government, we were forced to move court to get our due,” said Iqbal Singh. The Democratic Teachers’ Front too had demanded that long-pending promotions of other cadres (ETT to Master Cadre, C and V to Master Cadre, Master Cadre to Headmaster, Headmaster Cadre to Principal Cadre) also be completed.