The Supreme Court has upheld the validity of the recruitment process for 15,500 government posts initiated by the former Left Front government in Tripura in 2017, calling the process transparent and constitutional. The verdict, delivered by a double bench of the apex court on August 28, has reignited political debate and renewed demands for appointments from Left-backed youth organizations.
At a joint press conference held on Wednesday, leaders of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and the Tribal Youth Federation (TYF) strongly criticized the BJP-led state government for canceling the recruitment process. DYFI state secretary Nabarun Dey, DYFI president Palash Bhowmik, and TYF state secretary said the cancellation was “unjust, politically motivated, and a betrayal of the unemployed youth of Tripura.” They urged the state government to immediately resume the stalled process and issue appointment letters to eligible candidates.
Recruitment Scrapped Under BJP Government
The recruitment drive, launched by the Left Front in 2017, was one of the largest in the state’s history, aiming to fill 15,500 vacancies across multiple departments. Of these, nearly 12,000 posts were in the education department, more than 1,000 in the social education department, and 786 in the police department.
However, after coming to power, the BJP-led government scrapped the process, citing the introduction of a “New Recruitment Policy.” This decision triggered widespread protests and legal challenges. Several petitions were filed in the High Court and later in the Supreme Court, questioning the legality of the cancellation.
Apex Court Clears Process as Constitutional
After years of litigation, the Supreme Court ruled that the recruitment process was free from irregularities and complied with constitutional provisions. The verdict has been welcomed by the Left youth organizations, who see it as a vindication of their long-standing demand for justice.
Call for Justice for Job Aspirants
The youth leaders alleged that the then BJP government, under former Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, deliberately canceled the recruitment to deprive thousands of deserving candidates. “This verdict clearly proves that the process was fair and transparent. Now the government has no excuse left. Appointment letters must be issued without delay,” said DYFI secretary Nabarun Dey.
They further warned that continued inaction by the state government would only deepen the crisis of unemployment in Tripura. The organizations announced that they would intensify their agitation if the government fails to respect the Supreme Court’s judgment.
Political Implications
The verdict has not only revived the hopes of thousands of job aspirants but has also sharpened the political rivalry between the ruling BJP and the Left Front in Tripura. While the Left is using the issue to mobilize unemployed youth, pressure is mounting on the state government to take a clear stand in light of the apex court’s ruling.