Are 'Untainted' Teachers Preparing for a Bigger Stir?
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Synopsis
In Kolkata, the 'untainted' teachers facing job losses challenge the state government after a Supreme Court ruling. They promise more aggressive protests, highlighting the injustice they face. Will their actions bring change? Stay tuned to understand the unfolding situation.
Key Takeaways
- Teachers are escalating protests against job losses.
- Police crackdown on demonstrations has been severe.
- Supreme Court ruling annulled thousands of jobs.
- State government has issued new recruitment notifications.
- Protesters demand justice and transparency from the government.
Kolkata, May 30 (NationPress) The 'untainted' or 'genuine' teachers protesting against their job losses due to a Supreme Court ruling last month have vowed to escalate their demonstrations in the upcoming days, employing unconventional tactics, including removing their shirts during protests.
The initial strategy for the protesters was to gather at Sealdah station in central Kolkata and proceed with their unique rally to the state secretariat of Nabanna located at Mandirtala in Kolkata.
However, a significant presence of Kolkata police took control of Sealdah station well before the protesting teachers began to assemble, limiting the protesters to the station grounds.
Some teachers who managed to evade the police cordon were promptly arrested and taken away in police vans stationed nearby.
Despite their failure to reach the state secretariat, the teachers believe they have successfully communicated their message to the state government.
“After being employed properly and teaching with honor for many years, we find ourselves in this state of uncertainty simply because the state government has consistently refused to publish the lists categorizing the ‘untainted’ candidates from the ‘tainted’ ones. This shows that the government prioritizes protecting those who secured jobs through bribery over safeguarding the positions of genuine candidates. The government has stripped us. It must now return our dignity,” said one protesting teacher.
The teachers also accused police officers of brutally assaulting some protesters.
“We were kicked. Many of us were violently dragged through the streets and thrown into police vans. But we will not back down; we will be mounting a more significant demonstration in the days ahead.
Interestingly, on Friday morning, the West Bengal School Service announced a new recruitment notification for vacancies in state-run schools, but only for teaching positions in the secondary and higher secondary sectors.
On April 3 of this year, the Supreme Court upheld a prior order from the Calcutta High Court that annulled 25,753 school jobs in West Bengal.
The apex court backed the Calcutta High Court's observation that the entire panel of 25,753 candidates needed to be canceled due to the failure of the state government and commission to distinguish between the “untainted” and “tainted” candidates.
The state government and West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) have already submitted review petitions regarding this matter.
Point of View
We stand with the teachers advocating for their rights. Their struggle underscores a critical issue of fairness in public employment, and it's essential that the government addresses their concerns transparently and justly. The situation in West Bengal requires immediate attention to ensure that genuine candidates are not overlooked.
NationPress
08/06/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted the teachers to protest?
The teachers are protesting job losses resulting from a Supreme Court ruling that annulled thousands of school jobs.
What are the teachers' main demands?
They demand the state government publish a list separating 'untainted' candidates from 'tainted' ones and seek justice for their job security.
How has the police responded to the protests?
Police have restricted their movements and, in some instances, resorted to violence against the protesters.
What recent actions has the West Bengal government taken?
The West Bengal government issued a recruitment notification for teaching positions, which has raised concerns among the protesting teachers.
What is the outcome of the Supreme Court ruling?
The Supreme Court upheld the annulment of 25,753 school jobs, emphasizing the need for proper candidate segregation.
