Are 'Untainted' Teachers Facing Unjust Harassment from Bengal Police?
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Synopsis
In a challenging legal battle, a group of 'untainted' teachers from West Bengal have sought the Calcutta High Court's intervention against alleged harassment by state police. This follows their dismissal due to a Supreme Court ruling that annulled thousands of teaching positions. Will justice be served?
Key Takeaways
- Group of 'untainted' teachers seeking justice in Calcutta High Court.
- Supreme Court ruling annulled 25,753 teaching and non-teaching jobs.
- Allegations of police harassment despite court orders.
- Upcoming march planned by teachers for their rights.
- Legal implications of distinguishing between 'tainted' and 'untainted' candidates.
Kolkata, July 5 (NationPress) A group of 'untainted' educators from government schools in West Bengal, who were dismissed due to a Supreme Court ruling that invalidated 25,753 teaching and non-teaching positions in April, approached the Calcutta High Court on Friday. They accuse the state police of unduly harassing them in blatant disregard of the apex court's ruling.
These 'untainted' teachers have been staging a sit-in demonstration for over a month near the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) office located in Salt Lake, on Kolkata's northern outskirts.
Earlier in the year, the Calcutta High Court had instructed that the Bidhannagar City Police could not take coercive action against the protesting 'untainted' teachers until further court directives were issued, following a case that alleged these teachers had vandalized the WBSSC office.
On Friday, the representatives for two of the protesting teachers, Chinmay Mondal and Sangeeta Ghosh, brought this issue to the attention of Justice Tirthankar Ghosh. They claimed that despite the clear court instructions, Bidhannagar City Police had continued to issue notices to them for purportedly violating these orders.
Justice Ghosh noted that the 'untainted' teachers who received such notices could seek to have them annulled through individual or joint petitions with their counsel.
Additionally, the counsel for Chinmay Mondal and Sangeeta Ghosh requested the court to dismiss the original FIR accusing the protesting teachers of vandalism at the WBSSC office.
Justice Ghosh responded that any hearing regarding this matter would only commence after proper petitions are filed, with notices sent to all involved parties.
The 'Jogyo Shikshak-Shikshika Adhikar Mancha' (Genuine Teachers' Rights Forum), the organization leading the protests, announced plans for a 'March to the State Secretariat of Nabanna' on July 14.
On April 3, a Supreme Court bench, including then Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar, upheld a prior Calcutta High Court ruling that annulled 25,753 school appointments made by the WBSSC. The apex court stated that the entire panel had to be disbanded as the authorities failed to differentiate between 'tainted' and 'untainted' candidates.
Since then, both the state government and the WBSSC have filed petitions for review in the Supreme Court, seeking to have the decision reconsidered.
Point of View
It is vital to ensure that the rights of all individuals, especially those in the educational sector, are protected. The ongoing situation with the 'untainted' teachers in West Bengal raises significant questions about the enforcement of justice and adherence to court orders. NationPress stands with the principles of fairness and due process in this unfolding narrative.
NationPress
14/07/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What led to the dismissal of these teachers?
The teachers were dismissed following a Supreme Court order that annulled 25,753 teaching and non-teaching appointments made by the WBSSC.
What are the teachers accusing the police of?
The teachers are accusing the state police of harassing them despite a court order prohibiting coercive actions against them.
What is the response from the Calcutta High Court?
The Calcutta High Court has instructed that no coercive action can be taken against the protesting teachers until further notice.
What actions are the protesting teachers planning?
The protesting teachers are organizing a march to the State Secretariat of Nabanna on July 14.
What is the significance of the Supreme Court ruling?
The Supreme Court ruling emphasized the need to distinguish between 'tainted' and 'untainted' candidates, which ultimately led to the annulment of numerous job appointments.
