Delhi approves 58 special educator posts in primary schools to address EWS quota gap

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has cleared a proposal to create 58 additional posts of special educators in its primary schools to teach children with disabilities, following directions issued by the Delhi High Court.

Officials said the move is intended to address gaps in the implementation of the Economically Weaker Sections reservation during a previous recruitment process. The civic body has allocated ₹4.6 crore annually to fund the newly approved positions.

Authorities clarified that the new posts will be created as supernumerary positions, ensuring that candidates who have already been selected or placed on the waiting list are not affected.

The issue dates back to a recruitment drive conducted in 2020 and 2021 by the then South Delhi Municipal Corporation for special educators in primary schools.

During the process, 1,126 vacancies were advertised and forwarded to the Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board for conducting the examination and selection.

However, only 54 vacancies were identified under the Economically Weaker Sections category, even though the reservation policy required 10% of the total posts, or 112 positions, to be earmarked for candidates in this category.

The discrepancy led to concerns that eligible candidates under the EWS quota had been denied adequate opportunities.

Several candidates challenged the recruitment process before the Central Administrative Tribunal, arguing that the reservation policy introduced through constitutional amendments in 2019 had not been properly implemented.

The tribunal directed the authorities to review the applications and ensure full compliance with the reservation rules. The order was later contested before the Delhi High Court, which dismissed the challenge and upheld the tribunal’s decision.

The court further directed that additional posts should be created as supernumerary positions so that new appointments do not affect candidates already selected or those on the waiting list.

Recruitment under the Economically Weaker Sections quota in Delhi follows the policy providing 10% reservation for EWS candidates in government jobs.

The provision was introduced through the 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act and applies to direct recruitment in public sector positions, including teaching posts.

Officials said the approval of 58 additional positions will help address the shortfall in the earlier recruitment process while ensuring compliance with reservation rules and safeguarding the interests of candidates already selected.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi is expected to initiate the recruitment process for the new posts in accordance with the court’s directions.