Will protesting teachers persist after police baton charges?
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Synopsis
In a show of resilience, teachers protesting at Bikash Bhavan in Kolkata have regrouped despite police violence. Their determination to highlight injustices in school job recruitment continues, with demands for the government to publish clear candidate lists. This ongoing struggle sheds light on critical issues in West Bengal's education sector.
Key Takeaways
- Teachers show resilience in the face of police violence.
- Gherao protests highlight critical issues in recruitment transparency.
- Supreme Court ruling impacts over 25,000 school jobs.
- State government faces pressure to act on genuine candidate lists.
- Demands for justice continue to grow among educators.
Kolkata, May 16 (NationPress) Just a day after enduring baton charges from the police, the protesting educators have regrouped, encircling Bikash Bhavan, the headquarters of the West Bengal Education Department, on Friday morning.
Several teachers, displaying significant head and body injuries, were noted joining the protests.
Some demonstrators attempted to breach the Bikash Bhavan premises by dismantling the police barricades set up around the building located in Salt Lake, Kolkata.
A police unit from the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate has arrived at the scene to manage the situation.
The protesting educators assert that they will persist in their demonstrations, undeterred by potential police aggression, until their demands are met.
Their primary request is for the state government and the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) to promptly release lists distinguishing the "untainted" or "genuine" candidates from those deemed "tainted", who allegedly paid to obtain school positions.
They have accused the state government and WBSSC of deliberately withholding these segregated lists to shield the untainted candidates.
The protesting genuine teachers initiated a gherao movement on Thursday morning, surrounding Bikash Bhavan from all directions. Around 10 p.m. on Thursday, a substantial police presence was dispatched, leading to a severe baton charge to disperse the protestors, resulting in numerous injuries among the teachers.
Despite the dispersal of the gherao demonstration, the teachers reconvened at a distance from Bikash Bhavan, continuing their sit-in protest.
On April 3, the Supreme Court's division bench, led by former Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar, upheld a prior ruling from the Calcutta High Court's division bench, which had annulled 25,753 school jobs in West Bengal.
The Apex Court concurred with the Calcutta High Court's stance that the total panel of 25,753 candidates had to be revoked due to the failure of the state government and the commission to distinguish between the “untainted” and “tainted” candidates.
Both the state government and WBSSC have already filed review petitions regarding this matter with the Apex Court.
Point of View
It is crucial to recognize the ongoing struggle of the teachers in West Bengal. Their battle for transparency and fairness in recruitment reflects significant issues within our education system. While police actions raise concerns about civil rights, the teachers' demands for accountability should not be overlooked. We stand with the quest for justice and equitable treatment for all candidates.
NationPress
08/06/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main demands of the protesting teachers?
The main demand is for the West Bengal government and the WBSSC to immediately publish lists that distinguish between genuine and tainted candidates in the school job recruitment process.
What happened during the protests?
Protests escalated after police baton-charged demonstrators, leading to several teachers sustaining injuries. Despite this, the teachers have continued to gather and protest.
What is the significance of the Supreme Court ruling?
The Supreme Court upheld a ruling that annulled 25,753 school jobs due to the failure to segregate genuine candidates from those who allegedly paid for positions, highlighting systemic issues in recruitment.
How has the state government responded?
The state government and WBSSC have filed review petitions with the Supreme Court regarding the annulled school jobs and the ongoing demands from the teachers.
What is gherao, and how is it being used in this protest?
Gherao is a form of protest where demonstrators encircle a location to restrict access. In this case, teachers are surrounding Bikash Bhavan to draw attention to their demands.
