Discontent erupted after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met with teachers whose jobs were cancelled following a Supreme Court verdict. The affected teachers accused the state government of corruption and dismissed the CM’s promises as a mere “lollipop”.
The Supreme Court had upheld the Calcutta High Court’s decision to cancel the appointment of over 25,000 teachers and non-teaching staff recruited by the West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) in 2016, citing large-scale irregularities.
Speaking after the meeting, Suman Biswas, one of the terminated teachers, said, “The government is responsible. The CM, her cabinet, and the commission are all involved in corruption. Bribes were exchanged for jobs. Today, she gave us a ‘lollipop’ by vaguely promising voluntary jobs to 25,000 people.”
He further demanded the publication of a clean list of candidates and called for a review petition in the apex court. “This is the Bengal of Khudiram. We know how to fight. The job is our right, not charity.”
Another teacher, Meenakshi Singh, voiced emotional distress, saying, “I’ve cleared every step with proper documentation. I am not ineligible, and they have branded us as such without proof. We have families to feed—what will happen to our future? We are not in the mental state for re-exams.”
Earlier, CM Mamata Banerjee described the situation as part of a “conspiracy to destroy the education system,” asserting that many affected teachers were “gold medalists” and did not deserve to be called incompetent.
Banerjee said, “The Supreme Court hasn’t provided a list separating the eligible from the ineligible. As long as I’m alive, I will not allow any deserving candidate to lose their job.”
Despite the CM’s assurance of voluntary roles and future legal support, the teachers remained unconvinced, warning of a larger protest movement in the coming days.
The political fallout from the verdict and its aftermath continues to fuel tension in Bengal’s already volatile education and employment sectors.
