Kochi: The Kerala government’s stance of withholding approvals for deserving teacher appointments under the pretext of differently-abled reservation has drawn sharp criticism from the Catholic Congress, which has called for an immediate policy correction.
The controversy stems from a government order issued on July 31, 2025, which restricts appointment approvals to teachers only if posts are filled according to differently-abled reservation quotas. In reality, experts note, there are insufficient candidates available to meet the differently-abled reservation requirement, leaving many qualified and deserving teachers in limbo. The Catholic Congress has emphasized that failing to appoint these teachers destabilizes the state’s education sector, particularly in schools under Christian management.
Education specialists point out that while schools require teachers to function, those appointed without timely government approval have been serving without salary for seven to eight years. The Catholic Congress has highlighted the human cost of this policy, noting the hardship faced by teachers and their dependent families. They warn that legal rigidity in this matter represents not just bureaucratic inflexibility, but a moral and societal failure.
The Congress urges the government to withdraw the July 31 order and abandon discriminatory appointment policies. The management of schools under Christian administration has expressed readiness to provide affidavits ensuring that reserved posts will be filled according to availability in future vacancies. Yet, they argue, it is profoundly inhumane to deny approval to teachers who are already serving in the system.
“If the state does not reconsider its decision and grant appointment approvals to those withheld under the guise of differently-abled reservation, the Catholic Congress will actively campaign on this issue,” the organization declared. Plans for statewide protests and awareness programs are being drafted to support the teachers caught in this bureaucratic impasse.
The Catholic Congress reiterated its commitment to defending the rights of educators struggling for recognition and appointment approval, asserting that a prompt and humane response from the government is essential to safeguard the integrity of Kerala’s educational institutions.