Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, April 20, 2025, Kolkata: Several schoolteachers of various districts, whose appointments were annulled by the Supreme Court earlier this month, returned to classrooms across West Bengal on Saturday, even as uncertainty loomed over their long-term future. Their return followed the apex court’s interim order on April 17, allowing those “not specifically tainted” to continue teaching until December 31, 2025.
The court’s decision, while offering temporary reprieve, has left many teachers dissatisfied. While some resumed duty out of a sense of responsibility towards students, others stayed away, citing confusion over their categorization and awaiting an official list of eligible teachers from the West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC). The Commission is expected to publish the segregation list on Monday, subject to legal vetting.
At Mitra Institution in Bhowanipore, two dismissed teachers—one for mathematics and another for Bengali—rejoined, drawing relief from the school administration. Headmaster Raja Dey remarked that the school’s 1,200 students would benefit, but also acknowledged the emotional toll on the teachers, saying they were “deeply disappointed” by the temporary nature of the court’s relief. Dey emphasized that many returning teachers feel disheartened by the requirement to sit for a fresh recruitment test despite earlier qualifying through the 2016 SSC examination.
A similar sentiment was echoed by headmaster Ashim Nanda of Dum Dum Shree Aurobindo Vidyamandir, where three sacked teachers reported for duty. He confirmed that the school had considered hiring part-time instructors after the April 3 ruling, which dismissed 25,753 teaching and non-teaching staff whose appointments were deemed invalid due to irregularities in the 2016 recruitment process. The April 17 ruling provided a temporary solution, but Nanda acknowledged that the returning teachers were “reluctant,” aware of the uncertainty surrounding their employment.
Many school heads, including Supriya Panja of Park Institution in Shyambazar, expressed confusion over implementing the court’s directive. With no formal communication from the government regarding who qualifies as “not specifically tainted,” school authorities are unsure about updating the salary portals and confirming staff rosters. Several teachers have opted to wait for an official SSC certification before rejoining.
Meanwhile, protests continued across Kolkata, with unemployed qualified teachers and dismissed staff gathering at the Y-channel in Dharmatala, demanding permanent reinstatement. Protesters described the court’s directive as partial and unsatisfactory. They expressed frustration over the requirement to retake the exam, citing concerns about fairness and age-related disadvantages in competitive recruitment.
One protester, Mehboob Mondal, pointed out that both the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the court had previously accepted the authenticity of the Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) sheets submitted during the examination process. “In that case, why must we sit for the exam again?” he questioned, adding that no other profession demands retaking a qualifying exam after initial success.
Jayatri Bauli, another protester, emphasized that true relief would only come with full reinstatement and the right to serve until retirement. Ilyas Ali, a teacher at the demonstration, criticized the requirement to retest alongside candidates previously disqualified for malpractice, stating that it undermines their hard-earned merit.
Group C and D staff, who were excluded from the court’s temporary relief, also voiced their grievances. One such worker described the order as “devastating,” stating that no clarity had been provided for non-teaching staff, who now face uncertain futures.
Krishnangshu Mishra, general secretary of the West Bengal Headmasters’ Association, noted that the court’s order prohibits any special consideration in the new recruitment for the affected teachers. This, he said, has triggered anxiety among those who fear they may not succeed in the new selection process despite having once cleared it.
On Monday, members of the Deserving Teachers’ Rights Forum plan to march to the SSC office in Salt Lake, demanding the immediate release of the list that would distinguish between those considered “tainted” and those not.
The Supreme Court’s April 17 directive followed an appeal by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education, which warned of a significant shortfall in teaching staff following the dismissal of over 17,000 individuals—representing more than 11% of the workforce. The court allowed those not specifically found to be involved in any malpractice to continue teaching till December 31, during which the state government must complete a fresh recruitment cycle. A formal notification for the new recruitment is to be issued by May 31, and an affidavit submitted to the court thereafter.
While the temporary relief has enabled some continuity in the state’s education system, widespread discontent remains. Teachers who returned to work did so amid lingering doubts and a shared hope of being cleared in the SSC’s pending segregation list. Until then, many vow to continue their protests, demanding clarity, dignity, and justice in the recruitment process.
