Fighting and nails: Teachers protested at the West Bengal School Services Commission office in Kolkata Salt Lake. |Photo source: Debasish Bhaduri
Kolkata
Overnight protests continued Tuesday outside the West Bengal School Services Commission (WBSSC) office in Kolkata’s Salt Lake, with hundreds of teachers demanding a comprehensive list of “polluted” and “unpolluted” teachers, even as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asked them to “hike jobs”.
The Supreme Court on April 17 allowed the service of “special” candidates/teachers to provide relief to the West Bengal government and completed the recruitment process by the end of 2025 until the new recruitment process is completed. Illegal”.
On April 11, state education minister Bratya Basu assured that the lists will be released on April 21. But the deadline was not reached, which led to an escalation of protests. Since Monday night, teachers have limited WBSSC Chairman Siddhartha Majumdar to limits and demanded the resignation of Mr. Basu and Mr. Majumdar. A large number of police and Rapid Operation Force personnel were also present outside the WBSSC office to control the situation.
“How will we go to work without knowing who the well-deserved candidates are, who are not, and whether our job is safe?” protest teachers said in a press release issued Tuesday after meeting with the WBSSC president.
Mr Basu said on Tuesday that the government will soon submit a petition for review to the Supreme Court because it cannot publish a list until the court “allows” the court.
Ms Banerjee assured her teacher on Tuesday that they would receive a salary. “Don’t succumb to provocation and trust the people who take your job away,” she said, calling on them to resume their duties.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and State Minister Sukanta Majumdar attacked the Trinamool Congress government and said teachers were unemployed due to the chief minister and other party leaders. BJP workers also held a rally on Tuesday to oppose unemployment.
publishing – April 23, 2025 at 12:17 am IST
