Agartala, October 16, 2026: Unemployed youths who qualified in the Teacher Eligibility Test-I (TET-1) continued their sit-in protest in front of Shiksha Bhavan, demanding a clear timeline for publication of the merit list for Undergraduate Teacher (UGT) recruitment. A delegation of the protesting candidates met Tripura Teachers’ Recruitment Board (TRBT) Chairman Pratyush Ranjan Deb to discuss the delay and seek clarification over the alleged legal complications holding up the recruitment process.
The candidates expressed deep frustration over the delay, alleging that despite repeated appeals to the authorities, they had received no concrete assurance regarding publication of the merit list. Several protesters claimed they had spent the entire night on the streets without food, enduring mosquito bites and difficult weather conditions, even as Durga Puja festivities continued across the state.
The protesters said the authorities had repeatedly cited legal complications as the reason for withholding the merit list but had failed to provide them with any specific details or written orders explaining the obstacles. They demanded transparency regarding the cases involved and a definite timeframe for resolving the issues.
The candidates also expressed disappointment over Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha reportedly describing their agitation as “unnecessary.” They appealed to the Chief Minister to examine their grievances and intervene to ensure that their future was not left uncertain.
Arguing that they had qualified in the examination and completed the required application formalities following the recruitment notification issued on February 21, 2026, the candidates demanded either a written assurance regarding recruitment or a public declaration specifying when the merit list would be published.
The protesters questioned why qualified candidates should suffer because of legal disputes concerning recruitment procedures or reservation policies. They also referred to prolonged litigation in other teacher recruitment cases, expressing concern that their own recruitment might remain stalled indefinitely.
The candidates said they would continue their sit-in and hunger strike until the authorities provided satisfactory clarification and a concrete commitment regarding the merit list. They appealed to the government to address their demands urgently so they could return to their families and observe the remaining days of Durga Puja with dignity.