Teachers return to schools but continue protests as uncertainty over jobs remains.
Times of India | 18 April 2025
123 Kolkata: Several teachers expressed eagerness to return to school after the Supreme Court on Thursday allowed 'untainted' teachers to continue with their jobs until fresh appointments by the year-end. However, they are considering it only as 'temporary relief' and resolved to continue their protest on the streets until they get back their jobs permanently.
One of the prominent faces of the protest, Chinmay Mandal, who teaches at a school in Halisahar, said, "We cannot ignore the top court's order, hence we will be returning to school as it is our duty to impart education to the students. But at the same time, we will carry on with our protests and file a review petition. Moreover, it is sad that there was unfairness with the 'untainted' Group C and D staff as nothing was said about their joining."
During a press meet at Y-Channel in Esplanade, the protesting 'untainted' teachers announced a sign campaign across districts and the distribution of leaflets on Friday and Saturday. "The 'untainted' teachers have been allowed to carry on with their duties. It has been our long-time demand to segregate and publish the list of 'untainted' and 'tainted' candidates. So on Monday, we will march from Karunamoyee bus stand to Acharya Sadan and stage a sit-in demonstration with a demand to publish the list of 'untainted' candidates certified by SSC. At the same time, the 'tainted' candidates' list should be put up and their termination should be processed. Until these demands are fulfilled, our agitation will continue," said another prominent face of the protest, Mehebub Mandal.
"I respect the Supreme Court's order because it has provided us with an opportunity to return to our students. As a teacher, I have a sense of responsibility towards my students and for their sake, I will return to my school. But at the same time, we will continue with our protest and fight for our rights and jobs. We will balance between teaching and protest and, if necessary, we will teach in the morning and protest in the evening," said Suman Sikdar, a teacher at a school in Joynagar block. He pointed out that they are not happy with the outcome for Group C and D staff because 'untainted' non-teaching staff should also have been allowed to join back schools, as without them schools cannot run seamlessly.
Moumita Ghosh, another affected teacher from a school in Shasan, shared, "If we are getting our salaries, then we are bound to return to schools and take classes. I will also go to school. But the respect and confidence with which we used to attend the school will be lost. I do not know how to face my students. Moreover, it is still unclear how fresh recruitments will be made. We are in a hung-up state."
Another affected teacher from a South 24 Parganas school, Saikat Ghosh, pointed out that "temporary relief" for us is getting our salaries until the year-end. "We will obviously go back to our school and resume classes, but there is still uncertainty. We do not want to appear for another exam to prove our merit. We want our jobs back and a permanent solution, and for that, we will continue with our stir," added Ghosh. Another protesting teacher, Brindaban Ghosh, said during the press meet that the 'untainted' teachers are not satisfied with the govt's position and assurance as they sense that the govt may begin fresh recruitments. "We will go for prolonged agitation as our demand is to restore our existing jobs with respect," added Brindaban.