Synopsis
Protests over the loss of 25,753 teaching and non-teaching jobs in West Bengal have grown complex, with 'tainted' candidates joining 'genuine' candidates in demonstrations. The protests demand the release of segregated lists and action against 'tainted' candidates as ordered by the Supreme Court.Key Takeaways
- 25,753 jobs affected by Supreme Court ruling.
- Protests from both genuine and tainted candidates.
- Demand for segregated lists of candidates.
- Call for cessation of salaries for tainted candidates.
- Concerns over safety during parallel protests.
Kolkata, April 24 (NationPress) The protests regarding the loss of 25,753 teaching and non-teaching positions in West Bengal's state-run schools have taken a more intricate turn as of Thursday. This follows a Supreme Court ruling earlier this month, with the so-called “tainted” candidates now initiating their own sit-in demonstrations in front of the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) office, alongside the protests by the “genuine” candidates that began earlier this week.
On one side, the “genuine” candidates are demanding the swift release of the segregated lists distinguishing between “genuine” and “tainted” candidates.
Conversely, the other group claims their names were mistakenly included in the “tainted” list due to technical issues with their optical mark recognition (OMR) sheets.
Despite a substantial police presence that set up barricades to separate the two groups, there were frequent disputes and heated exchanges between them.
Members of the “genuine” group stated that in addition to the publication of segregated lists, they demand the immediate cessation of salaries for the “tainted” candidates and the return of any funds already received, as mandated by the Supreme Court.
“Our protests will persist until all these demands are fulfilled. We will not accept any protection for “tainted” candidates,” declared a representative from the “genuine” group.
Furthermore, the “genuine” candidates questioned how law enforcement permitted the “tainted” candidates to stage a sit-in demonstration a mere 500 meters from their assembly.
“Who will be accountable if an incident occurs during these parallel protests?” questioned a genuine candidate.
Earlier this month, a Supreme Court division bench, led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar, upheld a Calcutta High Court ruling that annulled WBSSC's entire 2016 job panel of 25,753 teaching and non-teaching positions.
The apex court endorsed the Calcutta High Court's observation that the entire panel must be revoked due to the failure of the state government and WBSSC to differentiate between “genuine” candidates and those who had secured jobs through monetary means.
