By The Sampadak Express
Protests continue to roil West Bengal as thousands take to the streets demanding justice after the Supreme Court cancelled over 25,500 teaching and non-teaching appointments linked to the tainted 2016 School Service Commission (SSC) recruitment. On Friday, a massive rally marched from Salt Lake’s Karunamoyee to the SSC office, led by members of the Jogyo Shikshak Shikshika Odhikar Mancha (Qualified Teacher Rights Platform).
A 13-member delegation of jobless teachers also held a three-hour-long meeting with State Education Minister Bratya Basu, which was also attended by the SSC chairman. The delegation pressed for two key demands — the publication of mirror images of OMR sheets and a detailed list separating qualified candidates from those who allegedly secured jobs fraudulently.
Following the meeting, the protestors said they were assured that the SSC will release a list of both tainted and untainted candidates by April 21, based on information provided by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Basu clarified that the original mirror images of the OMR sheets do not exist, but the copies held by the CBI will be made public. The state is also reviewing legal options to continue salary payments to affected candidates.
As tensions rose outside the SSC office, demonstrators began a sit-in protest, with chants of “We Want Justice” filling the air. Police and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel were deployed in large numbers to maintain order. Notably, three jobless teachers have been on a relay hunger strike since Thursday.
Political pressure on the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) also escalated, with opposition parties taking to the streets across the state. BJP MP and former Calcutta High Court judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay visited the protest site and warned of a mass movement if qualified candidates aren’t reinstated. However, his presence sparked mixed reactions, with some protestors shouting “Go Back” slogans.
In Malda, BJP leader Dilip Ghosh led a march to the District Magistrate’s office, warning that those who allegedly paid bribes may retaliate politically if targeted. Meanwhile, Congress workers clashed with police in Bardhaman after being stopped from locking the District Inspector of Schools office during a protest over alleged police assault on teachers in Kolkata.
As the April 21 deadline looms, pressure is mounting on the state government and SSC to act transparently and swiftly to address the concerns of thousands of disqualified candidates.
