Thousands Protest in Kolkata Over Cancellation of Teacher Appointments

Thousands of people took to the streets of Kolkata on Tuesday to protest the Calcutta High Court's decision to cancel the appointment of 26,000 teachers due to irregularities in the West Bengal teacher hiring process. The protesters argued that for the few who were involved in corruption, thousands of innocent teachers, their families, and students are now suffering due to the court's decision.

The Calcutta High Court declared all appointments null and void in the 2016 recruitment process and ordered the School Service Commission (SSC) to conduct fresh recruitments. The court also directed those who were illegally recruited to return their salaries within six weeks. The court found irregularities in the selection of candidates and ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to further investigate the appointment process and submit a report in three months.

Why this matters: The court's decision has sparked widespread protests and political controversy in West Bengal, with the ruling Trinamool Congress party and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) trading accusations of corruption. The issue could have significant implications for the upcoming elections in the state.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee strongly criticized the court's decision, accusing the BJP of 'buying' the High Court, CBI, NIA, BSF, and even Doordarshan. Banerjee said the court order could be a 'gamechanger' in the state, where the BJP is hoping to expand its footprint, and that the Trinamool Congress party expects to benefit from public anger over the issue.

The West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) recruitment scam came to light after the arrest of former education minister Partha Chatterjee, a Trinamool Congress leader, in July 2022. BJP leader Agnimitra Paul criticized the state government's perceived inaction, stating that the government was aware of the corruption involving bribes for jobs but did not take action. Paul urged the court and the CBI to arrest Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleging that it was impossible for her to be unaware of the corruption.

The West Bengal government challenges the High Court's decision, arguing that the cancellation of the appointments was done arbitrarily and would have a severe impact on the education system. The state government claims the High Court proceeded in a cursory manner without considering that cancelling all appointments will lead to a huge vacuum in schools, especially with the new academic session underway.

In its appeal, the state government contends that the High Court should have only set aside the allegedly wrongful and illegal appointments identified by the CBI, instead of cancelling the entire selection process. The state further argues that the High Court's direction to undertake a fresh selection process within a fortnight of the declaration of the Lok Sabha election results is unreasonable.

Mamata Banerjee assured the affected teachers that her government will challenge the order in the Supreme Court and ensure they get justice. "I want to tell those who have lost their jobs that they should not worry. We will fight for you and ensure you get back your jobs," Banerjee said at the protest rally. The chief minister accused the BJP of trying to end India's parliamentary democracy and vowed to continue fighting against the central government's alleged misuse of federal agencies.

Key Takeaways

• Calcutta HC cancelled 26,000 teachers' appointments due to hiring irregularities.
• Protests erupted in Kolkata over the court's decision, sparking political controversy.
• WB govt challenged the HC order, arguing it would severely impact the education system.
• BJP accused WB govt of corruption, while CM Banerjee alleged BJP's misuse of agencies.
• WB govt vowed to fight the order in SC and ensure affected teachers get their jobs back.