Guwahati, Aug. 13: The All Assam Secondary Additional (Contractual) Teachers' Association today blamed political vendetta for the delay in regularisation of services of teachers, recruited during the tenure of the previous government.

Therefore, the association will boycott Teachers' Day celebrations on September 5 and stage a demonstration here where around 6,000 contractual teachers will participate.

"We were appointed in various high schools by the former state government through a proper selection process in 2010. As per a directive of Gauhati High Court, the last cabinet meeting of the erstwhile government also decided to regularise our services. But the education department filed a review petition in the court and secured a stay on the regularisation process after the new government came to power," the association's general secretary, Mahidhar Kalita, said.

In 2014, the state government wanted to hold a special teacher eligibility test (STET) for contractual teachers to recruit them for regular jobs.

The association moved the high court and filed a petition, opposing the government's decision. The association said the teachers concerned had been appointed through a proper procedure which was strictly monitored by the deputy commissioner in every district.

The court then directed the education department to appoint the teachers on regular posts without holding the STET.

Eventually, the last cabinet meeting of the erstwhile government in February 2016 also decided to regularise the services of those teachers. On March 3, 2016, the education department issued an office memorandum regarding regularisation of the jobs.

"Everything was going smoothly until the BJP-led government came to power last year. It once again filed a review petition against the court order. The final verdict of the review petition will be delivered on August 25. But the government published a notice a few days ago to recruit teachers for permanent posts through teacher eligibility test (TET). We strongly oppose this decision. Without solving our issue, the government should not recruit any teacher in any secondary school of the state," Kalita said.

Moreover, the standing committee, formed by chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal to review the matter last year, also suggested to the education department to regularise the services of the contractual teachers on humanitarian ground and enhance their salary from Rs 15,500 per month.

"The standing committee suggested to the education department twice to regularise our jobs. But no action has been taken yet. Therefore, we have decided to boycott Teachers' Day and stage a demonstration," he said.