Cash-for-job Case: Has the Calcutta HC Been Approached Regarding Police Brutality Against Teachers?
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Synopsis
The Calcutta High Court is being urged to intervene in a troubling incident involving police brutality against teachers protesting job losses linked to a cash-for-job scandal. The teachers, united in their demands for justice, face serious allegations from the police, which they vehemently deny. The situation remains tense as the protest continues.
Key Takeaways
- The police's use of force against protesting teachers raises serious concerns about civil rights.
- Teachers demand transparency and justice regarding their job losses due to a corruption scandal.
- The Calcutta High Court's involvement could have significant implications for the ongoing protests.
- Allegations of police misconduct are being vehemently denied by teachers' representatives.
- The Supreme Court's decision has triggered widespread reactions among educators and the public.
Kolkata, May 16 (NationPress) An attorney from the Calcutta High Court has requested the court to intervene suo motu regarding the “unprovoked” and “ruthless” cane-charge carried out by police against protesting teachers at the headquarters of the West Bengal education department.
Teachers from state-run secondary and higher secondary schools in West Bengal, who have lost their positions due to a Supreme Court ruling last month concerning the cash-for-job scandal, were staging a protest outside the education department headquarters. They had encircled the building on Thursday.
The advocate, Rajnil Mukhopadhyay, formally asked the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, T.S. Sivagnanam, to intervene, claiming that officers from the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate used excessive force on Thursday night against teachers who were exercising their democratic rights to protest against the injustices inflicted upon them by the state government.
Many teachers were left with serious head and body injuries following the abrupt police action that occurred around 10 p.m. on Thursday.
In response, the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate filed a suo motu case against the protesting teachers, accusing them of vandalizing public property, hindering state personnel from performing their duties, and attacking police officers.
However, the teachers, united under the Jogyo Shikhok-Shikkika Adhikar Mancha (Genuine Teachers’ Rights Forum), have firmly rejected the allegations made by the police.
“We were engaging in a peaceful demonstration, and there was no instance of public property being damaged by any protester. The police are misrepresenting some images to frame us. Nevertheless, they will not succeed in intimidating us through such tactics. We will persist with our protests until our demands are met,” stated a representative from the forum.
The primary demand is for the state government and the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) to promptly release lists distinguishing ‘genuine’ candidates from ‘tainted’ ones, who allegedly paid bribes for securing school jobs.
They accused the state government and WBSSC of intentionally withholding the segregated lists to shield the ‘tainted’ candidates.
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 by the Calcutta High Court’s Division Bench led by Justice Basak and Justice Shabbar Rashidi, which annulled 25,753 school jobs in West Bengal.
The apex court also concurred with the Calcutta High Court's observation that the complete panel of 25,753 candidates needed cancellation due to the failure of the state government and the commission to differentiate between ‘untainted’ and ‘tainted’ candidates.
Both the state government and WBSSC have since filed review petitions at the Supreme Court regarding this matter.
Point of View
It is imperative to uphold the principles of fairness and transparency. The events surrounding the protesting teachers highlight the ongoing struggles within the educational system and the urgent need for accountability from authorities. NationPress stands with those advocating for justice and the rights of educators across the nation.
NationPress
08/06/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What triggered the police action against the teachers?
The police action was triggered by a protest held by teachers who lost their jobs due to a Supreme Court ruling on a cash-for-job case.
What are the key demands of the protesting teachers?
The key demands include the immediate publication of lists distinguishing genuine candidates from tainted ones who paid for their positions.
How has the government responded to the protests?
The government has filed a suo motu case against the teachers, accusing them of various offenses, which the teachers deny.
What is the significance of the Supreme Court ruling?
The Supreme Court ruling upheld the cancellation of 25,753 school jobs due to the failure to differentiate between genuine and tainted candidates.
What is the role of the Calcutta High Court in this matter?
The Calcutta High Court has been approached to intervene in the situation due to the alleged police brutality against the protesting teachers.
