WB School Recruitment Crisis: New Protests Erupt outside WBSSC Offices, Calling for Demand for “Polluted” and “Unpolluted” Candidates

Teaching and non-teaching staff held protests outside the Salt Lake West District School Services Committee in Kolkata. April 21, 2025. Image source: PTI

The protests broke out on Monday (April 22, 2025) at the West Bengal School Services Commission (WBSSC) office in the Salt Lake area of ​​Kolkata, after the agency did not release a different list of commitments from the controversial 2016 recruitment drive, which distinguishes it from the “polluted” and “unpolluted” candidates.

State Education Minister Bratya Basu had previously assured that the WBSSC will release a key list on April 21. When the list was not provided several hours later on Monday, hundreds of affected candidates gathered and protested outside the committee’s office.

This situation comes after the Supreme Court ordered the upholding of a Kolkata High Court ruling on April 3 that canceled the recruitment of approximately 26,000 teachers and non-teachers in the state schools due to violations in the selection process conducted by WBSSC in 2016.

The Supreme Court then allowed teachers who were considered “uncontaminated” to temporarily continue serving until December 31, 2025, or until the new recruitment process is completed. Those who have been fired as identified as “contaminated” faces must refund the salary they received and are prohibited from future recruitment. The ruling intensifies concerns about identifying the list of WBSSCs required by individuals in each category.

A group of affected teachers reportedly encountered publications on the list with WBSSC Chairman Siddhartha Majumdar. After the meeting, despite not being formally confirmed by WBSSC, recruitment through the first three rounds was considered valid, while recruitment in the subsequent five rounds was considered invalid.

WBSSC released hundreds of teachers siege around the WBSSC office and said protests would continue. The teacher asked Bratya Basu and WBSSC Chairman Siddhartha Majumdar to resign. A large number of police officers were deployed outside the WBSSC office to control this situation.

Hundreds of teachers siege outside the WBSSC office, vowing to continue until the official list is released. They demanded the resignation of Education Minister Bratya Basu and WBSSC Chairman Siddhartha Majumdar. An important police contingent was deployed to maintain order.