SSC teachers continue their protest outside Bikash Bhawan in Kolkata

NEW DELHI: Teachers in West Bengal continued their sit-in protest outside Kolkata's Bikash Bhawan for the 11th consecutive day on Saturday. The Supreme Court in April declared the state's 2016 School Service Commission (SSC) recruitment process "tainted," resulting in the cancellation of 26,000 teaching posts. The demonstrations intensified earlier this week following a police lathi-charge on Wednesday night that left several protesters injured. Authorities attempted to disperse the crowd amid mounting tensions, leading to scuffles between police personnel and the protesting teachers. The Supreme Court, in its April ruling, stated that only candidates with untainted appointments would be allowed to remain in service until December 2025 or until a fresh recruitment process is completed. The court also directed the West Bengal government and the SSC to advertise new vacancies by 31 May and complete the recruitment by the end of the year. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee responded to the judgment by assuring that no teacher would face salary disruption and pledged to resolve the matter within the year. “We have time till December. The issue will be resolved,” she said during a public address on 17 April. However, opposition leaders have taken a more critical stance. BJP leader and West Bengal Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, accused the Banerjee-led government of mismanagement. “Mamata Banerjee is the main culprit.She must resign,” he said, vowing continued support for the protesting teachers. The Supreme Court’s order was based on findings of irregularities in the 2016 hiring drive for school teachers and staff. It did not extend relief to many Group C and D staff, noting a higher percentage of tainted appointments in those categories. The top court’s ruling was framed with a view to minimise disruption for students while ensuring a clean and transparent recruitment process going forward.