70 teachers head to Del, ‘tainted’ group marches in heart of city
Times of India | 15 April 2025
1234 Kolkata: Around 70 state school employees, who recently lost their jobs, vacated their demonstration venue at Y Channel in Esplanade on Monday afternoon as they left for Delhi. They intend to take their demonstration to Jantar Mantar on Wednesday to protest against their dismissal. The same day, those categorised as "tainted candidates" marched from College Square to Subodh Mallick Square, maintaining their innocence against all accusations.
Before leaving for Delhi, the protesting teachers at Y Channel asserted their qualifications and criticised the "tainted" teachers and non-teaching staff, who allegedly obtained positions by unfair means, denying opportunities to eligible candidates.
Following the Supreme Court ruling on April 3, 25,752 school teachers and non-teaching staff lost their jobs. Their collective voices would be heard in Jantar Mantar, said a protester. The 60-seater bus was fully occupied as it left around noon, with another 10 protesters travelling by train. On their journey across different states, the educators plan to distribute leaflets. "I am striving to restore my lost dignity, and my position," said Anindita Choudhary from Bethua. "I have left my daughter with my husband, I want her to be proud of her mother."
Prasenjit Ghosh, another teacher, said, "I shall continue this fight until we succeed."
Even as the bus left, those labelled "ineligible" took out a march, questioning the authenticity of claims made by those calling themselves "qualified". The "tainted" group took out a rally, seeking to restore their social standing. Ritesh Ghosh, who lost his position, said, "The CBI said there was discrepancy in the OMR sheets of these teachers and staffers. CBI provided information, but that does not mean it is accurate." Biplab Biber, another dismissed employee, said, "I worked for over six years, after which I was labelled ‘ineligible'." Some indicated their plan to file an SC review petition.
But Chinmoy Mondal, leading Deprived Teachers' Association, said, "We lost our jobs for some who secured theirs via irregular means." Meenakshi Haldar, another person, said, "We are not labelling them ‘ineligible', it is proved."