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An orphaned Jharkhand Education Tribunal (JET), a quasi-judicial body running without a chairman since August, has decided to cease functioning from Tuesday, raising the worrying spectre of a free-for-all in private schools across the state.
A notice published on Sunday in vernacular dailies on the directive of JET member (administration) Narendra Bhagat, a retired IAS officer, said the decision had been compelled by the state government’s failure to appoint a chairman to the monitoring panel that has powers resembling those of a court of law.
“The post of tribunal chairman is vacant since August 19 and his powers have not been given to anyone. Owing to this, the administrative and judicial functioning of the tribunal is obstructed. The government is aware of the situation, but has not given any directive in this regard. So, work in public interest is obstructed... it is informed to common people that judicial work of the tribunal shall remain suspended from 20.12.11 till further orders,” the notice said.
State HRD deputy secretary Meena Thakur, who is in charge of the file on appointment of a JET chairman, expressed ignorance. “I do not have any idea about the notice as its publication is not in my knowledge. I have not seen the newspaper yet,” she said.
Asked when a chairman might be appointed, she expressed her inability to commit on the matter. “Only a retired high court judge or a retired IAS officer can be appointed to the post. The file is cleared by the chief minister and it is not possible for me to give a time frame,” she added.
Bhagat, however, confirmed the closure of the monitoring panel, saying the notice had been signed by HRD under-secretary Narendra Jha.
In 2005, JET was floated as a three-member body. Last year, its strength reduced to two after member (education) Narendra Sharma passed away. On August 18 this year, the number dropped to one after chairman Justice L.P.N. Shahdeo retired.
There are 11 contractual employees at JET and one regular employee deputed by the HRD department. All of them are grappling with financial crisis as no provision has been made for their salary in the absence of chairman, who alone has the power to draw and disburse money.
“Without a chairman, all work has been disrupted. He (the chairman) is not just a judicial functionary, but also financial head of the tribunal. Our telephone line was disconnected three months ago due to non-payment of bill. Apart from this, stationery items have been exhausted. Just imagine that a quasi-judicial body is facing a crisis of fax roll and envelopes,” Bhagat said.
Bhagat said he had “knocked all doors” before arriving at the decision. “When no one paid attention, this step was taken in the interest of the common people, who come from different parts of the state only to return without getting their job done,” he said.
A Ranchi-based teacher expressed concern over the development, saying that the failure to appoint a chairman had exposed the government’s lack of seriousness towards ensuring justice to all. “My school management terminated my services without valid reasons and I had planned to approach the JET for redress. All hopes of getting justice have been dashed,” he said.
