West Bengal SSC scam: Untainted teachers detained from multiple locations as police stop them from marching to Nabanna

After their request to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was not fulfilled, untainted teachers who have lost their jobs due to the cancellation of the 2016 West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) panel called for a protest march from Sealdah to Nabanna, the state secretariat.

 

However, as teachers began assembling near the Sealdah railway station on Friday, police intervened, detaining several teachers and declaring that no permission had been granted for the protest. Searches extended beyond Sealdah to other areas like Esplanade and even metro stations.

 

As police moved to detain the protesters, they faced resistance, resulting in a brief confrontation. However, due to the heavy police presence and their prompt action in apprehending individuals before they could reach the rally’s starting point, the protesters were prevented from assembling in large numbers at any location.

 

Since the 2016 SSC panel was scrapped, over 25,000 teachers and non-teaching staff have been protesting across West Bengal, demanding reinstatement without having to undergo a fresh recruitment process.

The qualified teachers claimed that the SSC scam, which led them to joblessness, has “stripped” their dignity. As a result, on Thursday, Chinmoy Mandal, one of the leading faces of protest, and others announced that they would be marching to Nabanna half-naked.

 

 

However, Chinmoy and several others were detained by the police while they were on their way to Sealdah. The protestors were seen complaining that almost all key leaders of the movement were taken into custody.

 

 

Meanwhile, the gazette notification for the fresh recruitment to fill the positions vacated due to the cancellation of the 2016 panel was uploaded to the official website on Friday. Earlier this week, CM Banerjee had announced that the recruitment notice would be published on May 30, in compliance with the Supreme Court directive. The apex court had ordered that the new notification be issued and the court be informed of it by May 31.

 

She had also urged the affected teachers to reappear for the recruitment exams, assuring that the government would take all possible measures to protect the interests of untainted candidates.

 

Reportedly, the latest notification reduces the emphasis on academic scores and instead prioritises prior teaching experience and classroom skills, awarding extra marks in these areas. This change is likely to benefit experienced candidates.

India