Why Are 'Untainted' Teachers Protesting Again Near WBSSC?
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Synopsis
In a dramatic turn of events, a group of genuine teachers in West Bengal has reignited their hunger strike outside the WBSSC office, demanding justice after losing their jobs due to a Supreme Court ruling. This protest highlights the ongoing battle between integrity and corruption in educational appointments.
Key Takeaways
- Protesting teachers are demanding justice following a Supreme Court ruling.
- Hunger strike highlights issues of educational integrity.
- Genuine teachers argue against new recruitment exams.
- Previous appointments were annulled due to corruption allegations.
- Ongoing struggle for fair treatment in the education sector.
Kolkata, June 13 (NationPress) A collective of genuine teachers in state-run schools in West Bengal, who have been dismissed from their positions due to a Supreme Court ruling in April this year, have commenced a new hunger strike near the office of the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC). The protest began just after midnight at Salt Lake, located in the northern suburbs of Kolkata.
This renewed fast was initiated by 10 untainted educators as the commission has begun the process of filling vacant posts, following a notification issued on May 30.
The primary demand of the protesting teachers is that they will not participate in new recruitment examinations.
Organized under the banner of 'Jogyo Shikshak-Shikshika Adhikar Mancha (Genuine Teachers’ Rights Forum)', these teachers have presented compelling arguments for their stance.
First, they assert that there is no justification for them to appear for a new recruitment exam since they had previously qualified for their positions legitimately, unlike the “tainted” individuals who secured their roles through bribery.
Secondly, they point out that both the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court would not have annulled the jobs of all teachers if the West Bengal government and the commission had published lists differentiating between untainted and tainted candidates.
This marks the second instance of hunger striking by the untainted teachers in support of their claims.
Previously, they initiated a relay hunger strike on April 21, which they suspended on April 26 after the state government promised to engage in discussions with them.
Despite this, they maintained a presence through assembly and sit-in protests outside the WBSSC office during the interim.
“The state government has failed to meet any of our demands. They have shown hesitation in providing us with concrete assurances. Thus, we have no choice but to resume our hunger strike,” stated a protesting educator.
On April 3, a Supreme Court panel led by then Chief Justice of India, Sanjiv Khanna, along with Justice Sanjay Kumar, upheld a prior ruling from the Calcutta High Court that voided 25,753 school appointments made through the WBSSC.
The apex court noted that the panel had to be entirely dissolved due to the authorities' inability to distinguish between tainted and untainted candidates.
Since then, the state government and the WBSSC have filed petitions for review in the Supreme Court to reassess the ruling.
Point of View
I stand with the genuine teachers of West Bengal in their pursuit of justice. Their plight sheds light on critical issues of transparency and fairness in educational appointments. It is essential that we address these concerns to build a more equitable education system.
NationPress
14/06/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted the hunger strike by the teachers?
The hunger strike was initiated by teachers who lost their jobs due to a Supreme Court ruling, demanding recognition of their qualifications and a halt to new recruitment exams.
Why do the teachers consider themselves 'untainted'?
The teachers believe they are 'untainted' because they qualified for their positions legitimately, unlike others who allegedly secured jobs through bribery.
What was the Supreme Court's ruling regarding the teachers?
The Supreme Court upheld a decision to annul 25,753 school appointments made through the WBSSC, citing the failure to distinguish between 'tainted' and 'untainted' candidates.
