Calcutta High Court directs teachers to relocate protest site

Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Friday ordered protesting teachers and staff of West Bengal government-run and -aided schools, who lost their jobs due to a Supreme Court ruling, to relocate their demonstration for public convenience. It also capped the number of participants at 200 at any given time.

Justice Tirthankar Ghosh, hearing petitions from the Deserving Teachers Rights Forum and the state government, directed protesters to relocate to Central Park in Salt Lake, opposite Bikash Bhavan, the state's education department headquarters. The court also instructed the Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation to provide essential amenities, including drinking water and bio-toilet facilities, at the new site.

Justice Ghosh allowed a maximum of 200 participants in the agitation at one time, with any additional sympathisers required to notify the police present at the site.

"Police and the members of the forum will make decisions on additional participation through mutual consensus," the judge said, adding that the forum must provide a list of 10 members authorised for such consultation.

Addressing the harsh summer conditions, the court further advised the state to adopt a humane approach.

"If possible, the administration should arrange temporary shelters for the protesters," Justice Ghosh added.

Noting the absence of complaints following the May 15 scuffle between agitators and police, the court directed law enforcement to proceed cautiously with the accused. It also instructed the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education to halt further action on show-cause notices related to the incident. The next hearing is set for July 4.

Appearing personally before the court as representatives of the forum, two teachers who lost their jobs stated that they were agitating only to put forth their side of the story before the public.

They claimed that the protest had been peaceful all along and none of the agitators indulged in any kind of unruly behaviour on May 15 or on any other date.

"Everybody has the right to peaceful protest, and the court does not have anything to say about it," Justice Ghosh said, maintaining that it is only concerned about ensuring that the public is not inconvenienced.

Earlier, the state government had filed an application requesting the relocation of the protest from in front of Bikash Bhavan, citing disruption to public movement and government employees due to the ongoing demonstrations.

Justice Ghosh had verbally instructed the state not to take coercive action against Sudip Konar and Indrajit Mondal, who had challenged police notices issued following the May 15 scuffle.

The state's counsel informed the court that notices have been sent to 15 persons in connection with the events during the protests.

While the protesters alleged injuries sustained during a police baton charge on May 15, law enforcement authorities claimed that several of their personnel were also injured during the confrontation.

Nearly 26,000 teaching and non-teaching staff of West Bengal government-sponsored and -aided schools lost their jobs following a Supreme Court order citing irregularities in the recruitment process.

(inputs from PTI)