Should the State Government Reinstate Unblemished Teachers in Schools? Bengal LoP Appeals to CS

Kolkata, Sep 1 (NationPress) The Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari, reached out to state Chief Secretary Manoj Pant on Monday, imploring the Mamata Banerjee administration to propose to the Supreme Court the reinstatement of untainted teachers from the School Service Commission (SSC) to their former positions.

In his correspondence to the chief secretary, Bengal LoP stated, “Three associations representing untainted teachers convened with me at the South Gate of the Assembly House. These organizations include West Bengal Untainted Teachers’ Association, Shikshak Shika Adhikar Mancha (IX-XII), and Rashtravadi Shikshak and Shikshakarmi Samaj. They voiced their concerns regarding the issue of reinstating these teachers.”

The BJP leader pointed out that the School Service Commission (SSC) has already identified and disclosed the names of 1806 (one thousand eight hundred six) tainted teachers.

“We assume that the remaining educators are untainted and deserve reinstatement. As the main Opposition party in West Bengal, we urge you to forward a proposal to the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India on behalf of the Government of West Bengal. This proposal should seek the reinstatement of all untainted teachers while excluding the 1806 tainted teachers identified by the SSC,” Adhikari articulated.

This initiative from the LoP followed closely after the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) disclosed the list of tainted and ineligible candidates in compliance with the Supreme Court's directive, barring them from participating in the recruitment process, with exams scheduled for September 7 and 14. The list includes 1806 individuals.

Among those listed are several individuals connected to or related to leaders of the Trinamool Congress. Additionally, approximately 350 tainted and ineligible SSC candidates approached the Calcutta High Court on Monday, seeking permission to engage in the new recruitment process, contesting that the WBSSC did not adhere to regulations when publishing the list and alleging discrepancies.

Earlier on Monday, Adhikari expressed that the BJP would back a cross-party resolution to retain “eligible” teachers in their school positions, should the Mamata Banerjee government propose such a motion during the current three-day special session of the state Assembly.

These eligible teachers are part of the nearly 26,000 teaching and non-teaching personnel in state-run schools, whose appointments were annulled by the Supreme Court in April, citing that the recruitment process was “tainted and vitiated” beyond repair.

Speaking to journalists outside the assembly after the first day’s session, Adhikari mentioned that he advised the chief whip of the BJP Legislative Party, Shankar Ghosh, to write to Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee requesting a 30-minute slot to discuss this matter on September 4.

“I will personally reach out to the state Chief Secretary Manoj Pant before the end of the day to urge him to approach the Supreme Court again, this time supported by this unanimous all-party assembly resolution, and plead with the top court to allow untainted teachers to keep their jobs,” he confirmed.