29 October 2026 (Navroze Bureau) The Punjab government has terminated the services of 253 teachers recruited under the 4,161 Master Cadre recruitment process after a revision of subject-wise merit lists, nearly three years after their appointments. The School Education Department issued the termination orders on October 28, 2026, following proceedings conducted in compliance with a Punjab and Haryana High Court order.
The decision has raised concerns among the affected teachers and their unions, who argue that they should not lose their jobs because of changes to the recruitment examination’s answer key and subsequent revisions to the selection lists. The department, however, has stated that the action was taken after considering the teachers’ replies, conducting personal hearings and examining the official records.
Why Were 253 Teachers Terminated?
The affected teachers were appointed under the 4,161 Master Cadre recruitment drive, which covered teaching positions in different subjects in Punjab’s government schools.
The recruitment examination was conducted in August 2022, and its results were declared in December that year. Appointment letters were issued to selected candidates in January 2023, while teachers selected through the revised process joined government schools in May 2023 and during subsequent appointments.
The recruitment process later faced legal challenges over alleged discrepancies in the examination’s answer key. Following court proceedings, subject experts reviewed the disputed answers, and revised merit lists were prepared.
The changes affected the marks and selection status of some candidates. According to reports, the scores of the 253 teachers fell below the prescribed cut-off after the merit lists were revised, making them ineligible for selection under the updated results.
Show-Cause Notices Issued in May
The School Education Department initiated action against the affected teachers in May 2026. On May 6, the Directorate of School Education (Secondary) directed district education officials to issue show-cause notices and seek explanations from the teachers within 21 days.
The notices gave the teachers an opportunity to respond before a final decision was taken. Some of the affected employees subsequently approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court to challenge the proposed termination.
The court directed the authorities to consider their replies and provide personal hearings. It also ordered that adverse decisions should not be implemented for 10 days after being communicated, allowing the teachers time to pursue available legal remedies.
On October 28, the Directorate issued its final orders after stating that it had considered the responses, heard the teachers personally and examined the relevant records.
The termination orders were delivered through the teachers’ official login IDs. According to the department’s instructions, the orders would take effect 10 days after receipt through the respective school heads.
Teachers’ Unions Criticise the Decision
The decision has drawn criticism from teacher organisations, which have expressed concern over the loss of employment after years of service.
Gurmail Singh, state president of the 4,161 Master Cadre Union, said the teachers had worked in government schools for nearly three years before their services were terminated. He argued that losing their jobs at this stage could create serious financial and professional difficulties.
Union representatives have also highlighted that some affected teachers may have crossed the age limit for other government recruitment opportunities during their period of service. They argue that the employees should not bear the consequences of disputes and administrative changes arising from the recruitment process.
The Democratic Teachers Front, Punjab, had earlier demanded the withdrawal of the termination notices and expressed solidarity with the affected candidates. The organisation called for a resolution that would protect the teachers’ interests and prevent further uncertainty.
The unions have also pointed to vacancies in the state’s government schools, arguing that the loss of experienced teachers could create additional difficulties for the education system.
Jalandhar Among the Affected Districts
Jalandhar district is among the areas affected by the decision. Of the 253 teachers, 20 are from Jalandhar, including eight mathematics teachers, five Punjabi teachers, five social science teachers and two science teachers.
The affected employees are posted in government schools and received their termination orders through their official departmental login IDs.
The revised selection process has therefore affected teachers across different subjects, rather than being limited to a single teaching discipline.
Recruitment Dispute Raises Questions About Job Security
The case highlights the challenges that can arise when recruitment results are revised following legal proceedings after selected candidates have already joined government service.
The government has acted following the revised merit lists and the applicable court directions, while the affected teachers and their unions have raised concerns about the consequences for employees who served for several years after their selection.
The immediate issue for the teachers is whether they can obtain relief through further legal proceedings or other representations to the authorities. The 10-day period specified in the termination orders provides an opportunity to pursue available legal remedies, subject to the applicable court directions and procedures.
The developments have placed the spotlight on the balance between implementing corrected recruitment results and addressing the employment difficulties faced by candidates whose selection status changes after years of service.