Sat Jan 31 15:28:11 UTC 2026: ### Catholic Church Leaders Protest Teacher Appointments in Kerala

The Story:

Leaders of Catholic Churches and managements of aided schools in Kerala staged a protest on Saturday, January 31, 2026, demanding the right to appoint teachers from the general category when reserved vacancies for differently-abled candidates remain unfilled. Major Archbishop Mar Baselios Cleemis argued that while they accepted the 4% reservation mandated by the High Court, the government’s stance was penalizing teachers as suitable differently-abled candidates were not always available.

General Education Minister V Sivankutty responded that the matter was tied to court orders and law, not politics, especially during an election season. He noted that the state government had filed an affidavit with the Supreme Court, awaiting its verdict. The Nair Service Society (NSS) previously obtained a favorable Supreme Court verdict allowing general category appointments when reserved vacancies were unfilled, prompting other aided school managements to seek the same benefit.

Key Points:

  • Catholic Church leaders and school managements protested in Thiruvananthapuram.
  • The protest centered on filling vacancies reserved for differently-abled candidates with general category teachers when suitable candidates are unavailable.
  • Major Archbishop Mar Baselios Cleemis criticized the government’s stance.
  • Education Minister V Sivankutty stated the issue is under Supreme Court consideration and not politically motivated.
  • The NSS previously secured a similar verdict in their favor.

Key Takeaways:

  • The aided school managements are seeking parity with the NSS in the application of reservation policies.
  • The issue is legally complex, involving court orders and pending Supreme Court consideration.
  • The timing of the protest coincides with an election season, raising concerns about potential politicization.
  • Availability of qualified differently-abled candidates remains a key challenge in implementing reservation policies effectively.
  • The state government’s response indicates a cautious approach, pending judicial resolution.

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