Teacher Recruitment Row: Candidates Gherao SCERT Office in Lucknow
Candidates for the 68500 Assistant Teacher drive protest at SCERT Lucknow over OBC reservation and eligibility discrepancies.
Lucknow witnessed a high-decibel demonstration as candidates seeking employment under the 68500 Assistant Teacher Recruitment drive staged a massive protest and gherao at the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) office in Nishatganj. The protesters are demanding an immediate resolution to reservation discrepancies that they claim have unfairly excluded eligible candidates from the recruitment process.
The Core of the Conflict: Reservation and Marks
The primary grievance of the demonstrators centers on the eligibility criteria for Other Backward Class (OBC) candidates. The protesters are urging the Basic Education Department to release a revised merit list and grant appointments based on the recommendations of the Uttar Pradesh State Backward Classes Commission.
According to the candidates, the State Backward Classes Commission has recommended a specific relaxation: OBC candidates who appeared in the 2018 recruitment exam should be considered qualified if they secured at least 60 out of 150 marks, which equates to 40 percent.
Government Stance vs. Commission Recommendations
While the State Backward Classes Commission reiterated its stance during a meeting held on June 16, 2026, the state government has remained firm in its refusal to alter the criteria. The government argues that changing eligibility requirements after the recruitment process has already been conducted is legally untenable.
To support this position, the government has cited a ruling from the Allahabad High Court Lucknow Bench dated April 16, 2024, which dismissed similar demands for the modification of eligibility standards.
A Timeline of Escalating Protests
The gherao at the SCERT office is not an isolated event but the latest in a series of aggressive demonstrations that have spanned late 2026. The candidates have targeted various high-profile political figures to bring attention to their cause:
- October 10: Protesters picketed the residences of BJP State President Pankaj Chaudhary and Cabinet Minister Sanjay Nishad.
- October 5: A demonstration was held at the residence of Education Minister Sandeep Singh.
- October 2: A formal memorandum was submitted to Union Minister Anupriya Patel.
- September: Protests took place at the BJP headquarters and the residence of Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar, some of which led to the detention of candidates.
The candidates insist that the government must honor the orders of the Backward Classes Commission to secure their professional futures and ensure justice in the recruitment process.