JBT scam: After Chautalas' conviction, future of over 300 teachers hangs in the balance

Chandigarh: The future of more than 300 teachers in Haryana is hanging in the balance after former Chief Minister Om Parkash Chautala and his son Ajay Chautala were sentenced to 10 years in jail in the Junior Basic Training scam. Teachers at the heart of the Junior Basic Training scam do not know what the future holds for them.

The teachers were hired out of turn, using a parallel selection list. Satish Kumar, one such teacher recruited, said life has moved on for him. He has acquired additional degrees, has taken on loans and has a little daughter undergoing treatment. Kumar said being terminated for him would be catastrophic. "All my documents were genuine when I was recruited. I'm worried I might lose my job now," he said.

At a primary school in Sirsa, teachers are weighing their options. While some say they're willing to have their documents examined again, others say they have all the needed qualifications. The teachers say they have nothing to do with the scam.

For its part, the Haryana government says it will tread cautiously, given that the more than 3,200 teachers and their families stand to be affected by dismissals. "We will decide only after getting the court orders. People must remember that the decision is taken independently by the judiciary," Haryana education minister Geeta Bhukkal said.

It's not just teachers at the heart of the scam who are worried of losing their livelihoods. There is another group of the then applicants for whom life and opportunities have been lost. Many of them wonder if they could have got the jobs had the process been fair. Perhaps this judgment is too late for them.

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