Teachers' Protest in Delhi: A Martyr's Journey Amidst Government Corruption

Over 200 teachers who lost their jobs following the Supreme Court's April verdict are traveling to Delhi to draw attention to their demands, protesting against what they call their punishment due to the state's "corruption" in the West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) recruitment process. They plan to hold four days of demonstrations in Delhi, submitting memoranda to the President, the Prime Minister's Office, the Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition, and other Members of Parliament. The protest comes amidst the Monsoon Session of Parliament, with the teachers seeking reinstatement without requiring them to sit for the recruitment exam again, and for publication of the list of eligible and ineligible candidates.

Key Takeaways:

• The SC annulled the appointment of nearly 26,000 teaching and non-teaching staff in state-run and aided schools, citing irregularities in the 2016 recruitment process and labeling it "tainted."
• The court, however, later declared 15,403 teachers "untainted."
• Members of the delegation met with Chief Secretary Manoj Pant and alleged that the government has yet to provide a solution to their demands.
• The Jogya Shikshak Shikshika Adhikar Mancha has been demanding reinstatement without requiring them to sit for the recruitment exam again and for publication of the list of eligible and ineligible candidates.
• A division bench of the Calcutta High Court dismissed an appeal filed by the state government and the SSC seeking to allow "tainted" candidates to participate in the fresh recruitment process.
• Mehboob Mandal, a representative of the group, said, "We who got our jobs by sitting for the exams are now being punished for the government's mistake."
• The teachers plan to hold a mass convention with teachers and professors, distribute posters and leaflets, and submit memoranda to several authorities as part of their four-day protest.

Statistics:

• 15,403 teachers declared "untainted" by the Supreme Court
• 26,000 teaching and non-teaching staff in state-run and aided schools had their appointments annulled by the Supreme Court
• 2016 recruitment process labeled "tainted" by the Supreme Court
• 20-member delegation met with Chief Secretary Manoj Pant and DGP Rajeev Kumar
• 4-day protest planned by the Jogya Shikshak Shikshika Adhikar Mancha in Delhi

Sources:

• IE Online Media Services Pvt. Ltd., distributed by Contify.com
• Supreme Court of India (April 17)
• Calcutta High Court