The Gujarat government has approached the High Court seeking permission to continue the recruitment of 11,000 Vidya Sahayak (teaching assistants) despite the ongoing controversy over 18 disputed questions in the Teacher Aptitude Test (TAT).
Hundreds of candidates have challenged the examination in court, alleging errors in the question paper. During the hearing, the government proposed that 10,500 posts be filled immediately, while 500 posts be kept vacant for petitioners until the case is decided.
The government argued that the recruitment process should not be stalled because of the dispute involving a limited number of candidates. It also informed the court that the recruitment calendar has already been released, even though the TAT examination, held on January 21, 2025, remains under legal scrutiny.
During the hearing, the High Court asked the petitioners what objection they had if 500 posts were kept vacant while the remaining appointments proceeded. The court observed that the final verdict on the merits of the case would be binding on everyone.
However, the petitioners opposed the proposal, arguing that simply reserving 500 posts would not protect their interests. They said that delays could deprive them of the opportunity to secure appointments at their preferred schools or locations.
The petitioners have sought a stay on the provisional merit list and appointments, and demanded that marks be awarded for the 18 allegedly incorrect questions. The government maintained that such marks could be granted only after the court determines whether the questions were indeed wrong. It also warned that granting such relief could prompt around 5,000 more candidates to file similar claims.
The petitioners insisted that appointments should be made strictly according to the revised merit list and presented a detailed chart before the court to support their argument.
The Gujarat High Court has adjourned the matter for further hearing until Wednesday.