Shillong, March 23 : The Meghalaya government has reiterated that teachers declared “tainted” in the 2009 assistant teacher recruitment case will be terminated, despite the High Court quashing criminal proceedings against former officials.
Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui clarified that the termination of tainted teachers and the quashing of criminal cases are independent matters. “These are two separate issues. The court declared some teachers during that recruitment as tainted and those teachers have to be terminated — that stand as of now,” Rymbui told reporters.
On September 4, 2025, the Meghalaya High Court quashed charges against former Education Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh, former Director of Elementary and Mass Education JD Sangma, and former Deputy Director Ameka I Lyngdoh in connection with alleged irregularities in the recruitment process. The case had been registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 2018, based on an FIR filed in 2011, alleging manipulation of score sheets to favour certain candidates.
The recruitment process under scrutiny involved five centres or subdivisions — Shillong, Jowai, Amlarem, Tura, and Dadenggre.
Rymbui emphasised that the High Court’s findings regarding tainted candidates remain valid and binding. “As of now, the issue regarding termination of those teachers stands because that has been done as per the court’s judgment,” he said.
The government’s position signals continued enforcement of judicial directives in the recruitment controversy, while distinguishing it from the now-quashed criminal proceedings against former officials.
