Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government is facing renewed scrutiny over its policy of appointing differently abled teachers in aided schools after several Christian denominations voiced strong objections. Education Minister V. Sivankutty stated that the government is open to dialogue with concerned parties and will review all grievances carefully.

The controversy stems from the implementation of disability reservation quotas in teacher recruitment. Christian school managements highlighted that they have complied with the mandated quotas 3% since 1996 and 4% since 2018but have faced difficulties finding eligible candidates. This has led to significant delays in appointments, leaving thousands of teachers without official status or salary for years, impacting nearly 50,000 individuals and their families.

The Syro Malabar Church clarified that regular appointments were made only after filling the reserved vacancies for differently abled candidates, emphasizing that their actions comply with legal requirements. Church representatives urged the government to consider the financial hardships experienced by teachers and the negative effects on their families.

Minister Sivankutty assured that the government is acting according to court rulings and is seeking legal advice from the Advocate General to ensure fairness. He indicated that a resolution to the issue could be reached within a week, signaling potential adjustments in the government's approach to accommodating both legal obligations and practical challenges faced by school managements.