West Bengal Teachers Protest Indefinite Adjournment of Reappointment Counselling
Teachers in Kolkata resumed protests after the reappointment counselling process was indefinitely adjourned. The Supreme Court ordered a fresh recruitment, leaving 'untainted' teachers who had passed new exams in uncertainty.
Key takeaways
- Teachers who lost jobs in a West Bengal recruitment scam protested after their reappointment counselling was adjourned.
- The Supreme Court ordered a fresh recruitment, requiring teachers to retake exams.
- The West Bengal Central School Service Commission adjourned counselling for the 2025 panel indefinitely.
- A reduction in OBC reservation by the new government has added complexity to the recruitment process.
Teachers in Kolkata, West Bengal, resumed demonstrations on Wednesday, August 12, following the indefinite adjournment of their reappointment counselling. This halt occurred after the Supreme Court ordered a new recruitment process.
These teachers, deemed 'untainted' despite having previously lost their jobs due to irregularities in the 2016 recruitment, had reappeared for examinations under the 2025 panel. Many had successfully passed and were awaiting counselling to finalize their appointments, but the recent suspension has left their future uncertain.
The West Bengal Central School Service Commission issued a notification on August 11, stating the adjournment of counselling for candidates empanelled under the 2nd State Level Selection Test (Assistant Teachers), 2025, for Classes XI-XII. The process, initially scheduled to begin on August 14, will now continue only after further notice.
The indefinite suspension has intensified the protests, with some teachers expressing despair. The situation is further complicated by a recent reduction in the reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBC) candidates from 17% to 7% by the current government, even though the examination was conducted under previous reservation rules.
Leaders of the Joggya Sikkhak Sikkhika Adhikar Mancha (Deserving Teachers’ Rights Forum) have called on the current administration to fulfill promises made regarding the reinstatement of 'untainted' teachers and staff.
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