West Bengal: Dismissed Educators Rally at WBSSC Office, Seek Release of 'Segregated' List

Synopsis

On April 21, dismissed school teachers protested outside the WBSSC office in Kolkata, demanding the release of the 'segregated' list. The Supreme Court had previously ordered their termination, leading to unrest among the genuine candidates awaiting clarity on their status.

Key Takeaways

Protest by dismissed teachers in Kolkata.
Demand for 'segregated' list release from WBSSC.
Escalating tensions and confrontations with police.
Supreme Court's role in the termination order.
State government's assurance for list publication.

Kolkata, April 21 (NationPress) A group of school teachers, who faced termination following a Supreme Court directive, have gathered in protest outside the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) in Kolkata on Monday, demanding the swift release of the 'segregated' list. Earlier this month, the state government and WBSSC had assured the legitimate candidates that the 'segregated' list would be made public by April 21, based on legal guidance.

The genuine candidates began gathering in clusters at the commission's office in Salt Lake on Monday afternoon, eagerly awaiting the release of the segregated list.

However, as the clock struck 7 p.m., tension escalated outside the office as there were no signs of the segregated list being unveiled by the commission.

The genuine candidates erupted in protest, chanting slogans against the state government.

Subsequently, reports emerged from within the WBSSC office indicating that only the list finalized in three out of the total 12 counseling sessions for the WBSSC panel of 2016 would be published.

This news infuriated the protesting educators, prompting them to lash out and attempt to breach the barriers set up by the police.

The situation led to a confrontation between the demonstrators and law enforcement.

Some of the protesters, including women, reportedly fell ill during the clash.

Afterward, the demonstrators initiated a sit-in protest in front of the WBSSC office, obstructing all entry and exit points.

They declared their intention to sustain the protest indefinitely until the commission releases the segregated list for all counseling sessions related to the 2016 panel.

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar, upheld the Calcutta High Court's decision to annul the entire WBSSC panel for 2016, comprising 25,753 teaching and non-teaching positions.

The apex court also validated the Calcutta High Court's observation that the entire panel was canceled due to the failure of the state government and WBSSC to distinguish the 'genuine' candidates from the 'tainted' ones, who had secured jobs through monetary transactions.

Following a meeting between a delegation of genuine candidates and State Education Minister Bratya Basu, the state government assured the publication of the 'segregated' list, adhering to legal advice by April 21.