Eligible Teachers Saved — In a significant turn of events in West Bengal’s ongoing teachers’ recruitment controversy, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced its willingness to support an all-party resolution to protect the jobs of “untainted” teachers whose appointments were caught in the fallout of the infamous 2016 recruitment scam.
The announcement came from Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, who said his party was ready to set aside political rivalry to ensure that thousands of genuine, eligible teachers do not lose their livelihoods.
Adhikari stated that if the Trinamool Congress (TMC)-led state government brings such a resolution in the ongoing special session of the Assembly, the BJP would back it “without debate” and stand united on the issue.
Eligible Teachers Saved: A Background of Broken Trust
The crisis stems from the 2016 School Service Commission (SSC) recruitment drive in West Bengal. What was meant to be a large-scale hiring process for teachers and non-teaching staff soon turned into one of the state’s biggest recruitment scandals.
Investigations revealed widespread irregularities — answer scripts tampered with, candidates unfairly elevated in merit lists, bribes allegedly exchanged for jobs, and political interference in the selection process.
By 2022, the scandal led to the arrest of Partha Chatterjee, then state Education Minister, by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) over his alleged involvement. The scandal shook public trust in the recruitment system and became a political flashpoint in Bengal.
After years of hearings, the Calcutta High Court annulled the entire recruitment process in 2024, a decision later upheld by the Supreme Court in April 2025. The ruling meant that over 25,000 jobs were cancelled — including those of candidates who may have secured their positions fairly.
The “Untainted” Teachers: Victims of a Wider Scam
The Court acknowledged that while corruption was rampant, not every teacher recruited was complicit. Many had secured their positions on merit but became collateral damage when the blanket cancellation order came into effect.
The SSC later released a list of 1,806 “tainted” candidates, while tens of thousands of others awaited clarity on their status. Teachers who had taught for nearly nine years suddenly found themselves jobless, their professional and personal lives thrown into turmoil.
Some of these teachers were the sole earners in their families, others had taken loans to pursue education, and many had already built bonds with students in government schools. Their sudden dismissal led to protests, hunger strikes, and sit-ins across Kolkata.
For weeks, thousands gathered in demonstrations under banners such as “We are not culprits, we are teachers”. Their primary demand: allow “untainted” teachers to retain their jobs.
BJP’s Change in Tone
For months, the BJP had targeted the ruling TMC over the recruitment scam, demanding accountability for the corruption. However, Adhikari’s recent announcement marks a shift from confrontation to collaboration.
He explained:
“We are not here to play politics over the livelihoods of 15,000 genuine teachers. If the government brings a resolution to protect their jobs, we will stand by it. Let this Assembly speak in one voice.”
Adhikari also said he would write to the Chief Secretary urging the state to approach the Supreme Court again — this time backed by an all-party resolution — to seek permission for untainted teachers to remain in their posts.
This nuanced position allows the BJP to project itself as empathetic to the plight of teachers while still holding the TMC accountable for the original scam.
TMC’s Response
Leaders of the Trinamool Congress dismissed the BJP’s offer as “politically motivated” and “too late.” Senior party members argued that the legal process had already run its course and that the Supreme Court’s ruling could not be easily altered through political resolutions.
Kalyan Banerjee, a TMC MP and senior advocate, remarked:
“This is nothing but a political stunt. Where were they when the teachers were protesting on the streets for months? Now, sensing the public mood, they want to play saviour.”
However, for many observers, the TMC itself faces a political dilemma. On the one hand, it wants to be seen as sympathetic to affected teachers. On the other, the scam unfolded under its watch, and any attempt to shield dismissed candidates risks reigniting public anger.
The Human Cost
The impact of the scam is not just political or legal — it is deeply personal.
- Families of dismissed teachers are now struggling with financial uncertainty.
- Many have mortgage or education loans to repay but no income.
- Teachers who worked for nearly a decade are now being asked to sit for fresh recruitment exams.
- The abrupt loss of jobs has also triggered mental health crises among affected teachers.
One teacher at a protest rally in Kolkata said:
“For nine years, I taught students, guided them, and built my life around my job. Suddenly, I am told my appointment doesn’t exist. Is that my fault, or the fault of those who corrupted the system?”
Interim Relief by State Government
To address the crisis, the Bengal government introduced the West Bengal Livelihood and Social Security Interim Scheme in May 2025.
This scheme provides:
- ₹25,000 per month for dismissed Group C staff
- ₹20,000 per month for dismissed Group D staff
While the relief has helped temporarily, protesters argue that it does not solve the root problem. They want their jobs restored, not replaced with allowances.
Political Stakes
The issue has now become a major political battleground in West Bengal.
- For the BJP, supporting the resolution allows the party to reach out to teachers, their families, and the middle class — groups that are sympathetic to the plight of “untainted” candidates.
- For the TMC, mishandling the issue could fuel anti-incumbency sentiments, especially ahead of municipal and panchayat polls.
- For the Left and Congress, both of whom are minor players in Bengal today, the controversy provides an opportunity to align with civil society and rebuild lost relevance.
Possible Scenarios Ahead
- All-Party Resolution Passes
- If the Assembly unanimously backs the resolution, the state can approach the Supreme Court with greater moral authority.
- Judicial Resistance
- The Court may uphold its earlier ruling, viewing political resolutions as interference in judicial matters.
- Creation of Supernumerary Posts
- The government may consider creating additional posts to accommodate untainted teachers without affecting future recruitment.
- Intensified Protests
- If no relief comes, protests may spread further, disrupting normal life in Kolkata and beyond.
Larger Questions Raised
- Can political resolutions override judicial verdicts?
- What mechanisms should exist to protect innocent individuals when systemic corruption is exposed?
- How can recruitment processes in India be made more transparent and tamper-proof?
The crisis in Bengal highlights the fragility of public trust in institutions. When corruption infiltrates exams and recruitment, it undermines not only fairness but also hope for thousands of young aspirants.
Conclusion
The BJP’s decision to back an all-party resolution is a politically strategic yet socially sensitive move. Whether it will lead to real relief for teachers remains uncertain, as the final authority lies with the Supreme Court.
For now, however, it has reignited hope among thousands of teachers who, for nearly a decade, have lived in the shadow of a scam they were never part of.
As Bengal watches the Assembly session unfold, the voices of dismissed but determined teachers continue to echo in protests across the state:
“We taught with honesty. Do not punish us for the corruption of others.”
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West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) – Official updates on recruitment and teacher eligibility:
https://www.westbengalssc.com -
Calcutta High Court – Judgments and ongoing cases related to teacher recruitment in Bengal:
https://calcuttahighcourt.gov.in -
Press Information Bureau (PIB) – Government of India – Education sector announcements and reforms:
https://pib.gov.in
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