Over 1,000 Protesters Demand Reinstatement After Supreme Court Scraps 2016 SSC Appointments
Kolkata, May 17 — Demonstrations outside the West Bengal Education Department headquarters in Salt Lake entered their third consecutive day on Saturday, as nearly 1,000 sacked school teachers continued their peaceful sit-in demanding reinstatement after losing their jobs following a Supreme Court verdict.The teachers, who had cleared the 2016 School Service Commission (SSC) recruitment process, have been protesting outside Bikash Bhavan since Thursday night. Security personnel have been stationed nearby to monitor the situation, though no disturbances have been reported.
The Supreme Court last month annulled the appointment of 25,753 teachers and non-teaching staff in state-aided schools, declaring the entire recruitment process as “vitiated and tainted.” The decision triggered massive unrest among those affected.
Teachers Demand Government Intervention
The protesters are calling on the West Bengal government to initiate legal steps for their reinstatement. Chinmoy Mondal, a forum leader representing the dismissed teachers, urged wider support and direct engagement with the state's leadership.“We have requested thousands of teachers, civil society members, and supporters to gather at Bikash Bhavan from 3 pm on Friday to intensify the protest. We want immediate talks with the chief minister,” said Mondal.
Political Support Grows
Leader of the Opposition and senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari visited the protest site on Friday, expressing solidarity with the teachers. Adhikari vowed to press the issue during the next assembly session, warning of a disruption if the matter is not addressed.“You have been made to suffer due to the massive corruption of this government. We will not allow the upcoming June assembly session to proceed if this issue is not allowed to be raised,” said Adhikari. He also assured that other party leaders, including BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar, would join the protest soon.
As the sit-in continues, the fate of thousands of educators remains uncertain, with growing public and political pressure on the state administration to respond decisively.