Patna: The high court bench of Justice Samarendra Pratap Singh on Wednesday directed the state government to prepare the merit list of trained candidates only for appointment of teachers in secondary and senior secondary schools.

The court also made it clear that the government would refund the examination fees of untrained candidates. The court passed the direction on a petition filed by one Prabhat Kumar and others challenging the state government's decision to allow untrained persons to take Secondary Teachers’ Eligibility Test. The bench passed the order following the National Council for Teachers’ Education (NCTE) counsel S.N. Pathak's submission that the NCTE has not given any relaxation for appointment of untrained candidates in secondary and higher secondary schools.

Pathak said the Centre had relaxed the norms for the appointment of untrained candidates in primary schools through TET. He submitted that the central government gave the relaxation in the minimum qualifications, as laid down by National Council for Technical Education to become teacher, following a request from the state government.

Illicit liquor order

Patna: Chief secretary A.K. Sinha on Wednesday directed the excise department officials to issue advertisements announcing rewards for those providing information about illicit liquor trade and also to keep identity of such persons secret. Sinha issued the directive while chairing a meeting convened to take stock of the steps taken to check illicit liquor trade. In December last year, 49 cases were lodged against 92 people for trading in illicit liquor. Sinha also directed the home department to act quickly to confiscate the property of illicit liquor traders after seeking permission from courts.

Governor delay

Patna: Governor Devanand Konwar did not provide the education department with the list of vice-chancellor and pro-vice-chancellors to the education department. Konwar was supposed to return to Patna on Wednesday but will now come on Thursday.

Rally permission

Patna: District magistrate Sanjay Kumar Singh on Wednesday gave permission to India Against Corruption to organise a rally at Gandhi Maidan on January 30. The organisation had submitted an application requesting permission for the meeting, which would by attended by Anna Hazare.

Luggage trouble

Patna: A scuffle occurred at Patna airport on Wednesday afternoon after around 10 passengers on Air India flight Delhi- Patna- Delhi flight AI- 409 could not find their luggage after arriving around 2.30pm. Sources said their luggage was left at Delhi airport. Later, their luggage arrived at Patna airport with Air India flight AI-415, which arrived around 5.30pm.

Ex-rebel shot

Patna: A former self proclaimed area commander of the CPI (Maoist) Raj Kumar alias Tetaria was shot and his associate Sanjeev Kumar injured when motorbike borne criminals opened fire on them in an area falling under Katra police station in Muzaffarpur district late on Wednesday evening. Sanjeev has been admitted to the Srikrishna Medical College and Hospital for treatment. Police said that Raj Kumar had surrendered before the police in 2008.