69,000 Teacher Recruitment Row: Reserved Category Candidates Stage Protest Outside UP Education Minister’s Residence
Candidates involved in the long-pending 69,000 assistant teacher recruitment case in Uttar Pradesh staged a dramatic protest outside the residence of Basic Education Minister Sandeep Singh on Monday.
Braving intense heat, several reserved category candidates lay down on the scorching road while marching toward the minister’s residence, demanding justice in the recruitment dispute that has remained unresolved for years.
The protest began around 11 am, with candidates raising slogans and continuing the symbolic demonstration for nearly 20 minutes.
The extreme heat made conditions difficult, leaving many protesters exhausted and drenched in sweat. Several candidates complained of burning hands, feet and stomachs after lying on the heated road surface.
Police personnel at the spot later provided drinking water to the visibly distressed protesters.
Following the protest, Minister Sandeep Singh invited a delegation of candidates for talks. During the meeting, the protesters submitted a memorandum and discussed the upcoming hearing in the Supreme Court of India scheduled for Wednesday.
The candidates urged the state government to present a proposal supporting “litigant benefit” in court to help resolve the matter. According to the protesters, the minister assured them that their concerns and proposal would be considered positively.
After the discussion, the police escorted the protesters in buses to Eco Garden.
Rajesh Chaudhary, state media in-charge of the Pichhda Dalit Sanyukt Morcha, alleged that although the matter has been listed in the Supreme Court 31 times, the state government has repeatedly failed to present its stand effectively during hearings.
He said the case is once again scheduled for a hearing on Tuesday.
The protesting candidates said they have been fighting for justice for the last six years. Leaders of the demonstration, including Ramvilas, Sumit Yadav, Dhananjay Gupta, Amit and Vikram, stated that the recruitment process for 69,000 assistant teachers began on December 4, 2018, when applications were invited. The written examination was conducted on January 6, 2019, and the results were declared on June 1, 2020.
The controversy began after reserved category candidates alleged irregularities in nearly 19,000 seats reserved under quota provisions. Claiming that reservation rules were violated during selection, they approached the Allahabad High Court seeking intervention.
On August 13, 2024, the Lucknow bench of the High Court reportedly observed irregularities in the recruitment process and cancelled the entire selection list. The issue also drew attention from the National Commission for Backward Classes, which released a report highlighting alleged discrepancies in reservation implementation.
The matter has now remained pending before the Supreme Court for nearly two years, adding to the frustration among candidates who claim their careers have been left uncertain.
Over the years, the candidates have organised several demonstrations to press for action. Protesters claimed they have surrounded the Chief Minister’s residence six times and staged demonstrations outside the Deputy Chief Minister’s residence on ten occasions. They also said protests have been held more than ten times outside the residence of the Basic Education Minister.
According to the candidates, they also demonstrated eight times outside the residence of former Education Minister Satish Dwivedi and three times at the residence of Cabinet Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar.
The protesters further stated that in 2025, they met Yogi Adityanath during the public grievance hearing in Gorakhpur. Demonstrations were also reportedly organised seven times outside the residences of Cabinet Minister Swatantra Dev Singh and Union Minister Anupriya Patel along with Cabinet Minister Ashish Patel.
The candidates added that they have submitted memorandums multiple times to BJP MLA Rajeshwar Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak and former BJP state president Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary.
Apart from state leaders, the candidates claim they have written more than 20 letters seeking justice to senior national figures, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu and Governor Anandiben Patel.
