Updated On: 30 September, 2023 07:31 AM IST | Mumbai | Vinod Kumar Menon
The 41 candidates were selected by MPSC but never appointed by the state; MAT order asks government to appoint them as and when vacancies are available

Shilpa Sonawane, Kalyan resident
In a major setback, there is no recourse from the Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal (MAT) for 41 candidates from the state, who were selected by MPSC in 2014, for the post of English lecturers at Maharashtra Polytechnic Teachers Service Grade - A, but never appointed by the state government. These candidates were compelled to approach MAT, which, in its recent order, directed that they be accommodated against present or future vacancies as and when available, unless age barred. Overlooking these selected candidates by MPSC, the state had regularised the employment of contractual teachers at the polytechnic institutes, leaving the petitioners jobless. The ray of hope that these petitioners were looking for from MAT, hit a roadblock, as the state government submitted that there are no vacancies.
The petitioners pointed to MAT that the government had enacted an act - Maharashtra Creation of Supernumerary Post and Appointment of Selected Candidates Act 2022 - by which it had created 1,067 posts in various other state government-run departments, in order to issue appointment letters to candidates. These candidates were not appointed despite being selected by various selection boards. The plea of the 41 candidates to MAT was that if the government can make provisions by introducing a new act for accommodating candidates selected by other boards for government jobs, then MAT should direct the state government to accommodate them under the act.