LPST Rank List Candidates Intensify Protest

Thiruvananthapuram: The protest by candidates included in the LPST rank list but yet to receive appointments is intensifying outside the Secretariat. After the second round of talks with the government also failed, the candidates are preparing for stronger protest programmes.

The candidates are intensifying their agitation after the UDF government failed to keep its promise despite being given 40 days' time. Even after 94 days, the government has not agreed to examine their demands or appoint a commission to study their demands.

The candidates had placed five demands before the government that they say would not impose any financial burden. These include extending the validity of the rank list, delaying the notification and resolving the situation in which candidates who had already joined service were forced to leave their posts. They have also demanded that the teacher-student ratio be reduced to 1:25, but the government has not accepted this demand.

Protest leader Valarmathi said extending the validity of the list without reducing the ratio to 1:25 would be of no benefit to the candidates. She said the government's argument was that reducing the ratio to 1:25 would create a financial burden.

Once a rank list is published, the PSC is responsible for making appointments from it as per the rules, Valarmathi said. She added that the government's approach of blocking appointments citing other reasons was wrong.

While the government rejects the candidates' demands citing financial constraints, it is providing full support to those who allegedly secure appointments by paying bribes.

The candidates have decided to continue with strong protests until their demands are accepted.