WBSSC recruitment case: Police summons protesting teachers on May 21

Kolkata: Police have summoned 17 teachers protesting outside the West Bengal Education Department headquarters in connection with allegations of destroying public property and obstructing state government personnel from performing their duties.

The teachers, some of whom sustained head and body injuries during police action, have been instructed to appear in person at Bidhannagar North Police Station, Kolkata, under the jurisdiction of the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate, at 11 a.m. on May 21. The notice, a copy of which is with IANS, warns that failure to comply may lead to arrest under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

The summons follow a suo motu case registered by Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate against the protesting teachers, accusing them of vandalism, obstruction of government officials, and assault on police personnel.

Meanwhile, a Calcutta High Court advocate has sought suo motu intervention by the court regarding the "unprovoked" and "ruthless" baton charge on the protesting teachers. The teachers’ demand was for the state government and the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) to publish a list distinguishing "untainted" candidates from "tainted" ones who allegedly secured jobs through monetary means.

The issue has also drawn political attention, with West Bengal Assembly Opposition Leader Suvendu Adhikari announcing that the BJP legislative team will raise the matter during the Monsoon Session, commencing June 9.

On April 3 this year, the Supreme Court upheld a previous Calcutta High Court order cancelling 25,753 school jobs in West Bengal. The Apex Court accepted the Calcutta High Court’s observation that the entire panel had to be annulled due to the failure of the state government and WBSSC to segregate "untainted" candidates from "tainted" ones.

The state government and WBSSC have since filed review petitions with the Supreme Court on this issue.

With IANS inputs