Untainted SSC Teachers Seek PM Modi’s Meeting: As Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares to visit West Bengal on May 29, 2025, to lay the foundation stone of a City Gas Distribution (CGD) project in Alipurduar, a group of determined educators are seeking an audience with him. These individuals are not just another cohort of citizens hoping to greet the Prime Minister—they are untainted teachers and non-teaching staff whose futures were upended by the infamous West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) recruitment scam. Now, they want their voices heard at the highest level of government.
This long-form article delves deep into the issue, chronicling the journey of these educators, the nature of the scam that altered their lives, the judiciary’s stand, political reactions, and the significance of their appeal to PM Modi.
The West Bengal SSC Scam: A Quick Recap
In 2016, the WBSSC conducted a massive recruitment drive for teachers and non-teaching staff across state-run and aided schools in West Bengal. Thousands of aspirants appeared for the exam, hoping for stable, respectable government jobs. But within a few years, the selection process came under scrutiny following a flood of complaints and Public Interest Litigations (PILs) alleging massive corruption, favoritism, and tampering with OMR sheets.
Investigations and judicial scrutiny unveiled a systemic manipulation of the merit list. Irregularities included insertion of names post-publication of final results, candidates with blank OMRs getting jobs, and alleged bribery for appointments. The Calcutta High Court deemed the entire 2016 panel as compromised and, in a landmark verdict in April 2025, cancelled the appointments of over 25,000 individuals—including many who were not involved in any wrongdoing.
Who Are the ‘Untainted’ Teachers?
Among those dismissed are a significant number of candidates who had cleared the examination fair and square. These are the “untainted” teachers and non-teaching staff—individuals with valid credentials, whose appointment files were never questioned or flagged by investigative agencies. Yet, their jobs were terminated en masse due to the overall cancellation of the 2016 panel.
For them, the punishment is collective and indiscriminate. They argue that the court’s order, while well-intentioned in curbing corruption, fails to differentiate between the guilty and the innocent. Their stance is clear: “Why should we suffer when we played by the rules?”
The Legal Battle and Supreme Court Relief
After the Calcutta High Court order, petitions were filed in the Supreme Court, primarily from those who claimed they had no role in the corruption. In mid-April 2025, the apex court offered partial relief—granting temporary permission to these untainted teachers to continue working until December 31, 2025, provided the state completes a clean recruitment process by then.
However, the relief came with a caveat. The reappointment of these teachers would depend on the outcome of fresh selection processes, meaning even untainted staff must go through new evaluations. This clause has triggered widespread anxiety, especially for those with years of service and commendable track records.
Untainted SSC Teachers Seek PM Modi’s Meeting: Protests Across the State
In response, large-scale protests erupted across West Bengal, particularly outside the state education headquarters at Bikash Bhavan in Kolkata. Teachers formed human chains, held sit-ins, and observed hunger strikes demanding immediate reinstatement without reappearing for exams. Police crackdowns and arrests added to the drama.
Their protest is not merely a political stunt—it is a heartfelt plea for justice from people who had pinned their dreams and livelihoods on their hard-earned government jobs.
The Appeal to PM Modi
With PM Modi’s visit to Alipurduar approaching, the untainted group sees a critical opportunity. They submitted a formal memorandum to BJP MP Manoj Tigga, who represents Alipurduar in the Lok Sabha, seeking an appointment with the Prime Minister. They also appealed to local district officials, hoping their request would be forwarded through official channels.
Their memorandum does not make political accusations. Instead, it outlines their legal standing, moral integrity, and the injustice of collective punishment. They want the Prime Minister to intervene directly—perhaps through an executive order or a recommendation to the state and judiciary.
Their message: “We are victims of a broken system. Help us find justice.”
Prime Minister Modi’s Previous Remarks
This is not the first time PM Modi has addressed the issue. During the 2024 Lok Sabha campaign in West Bengal, he mentioned the SSC scam multiple times. In one rally, he said:
“Those who got jobs by cheating must be punished. But those who cleared the exam honestly and were victims of corruption—they must be protected.”
He also reportedly directed the state BJP unit to create a legal help cell for affected teachers and emphasized distinguishing between culprits and victims.
Now, the teachers hope he will go beyond words.
Mamata Banerjee’s Response and the State Government’s Stand
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, under whose tenure the SSC appointments occurred, has expressed sympathy toward the untainted staff. After the Supreme Court relief, she welcomed the order and assured that her government would ensure no deserving teacher remains jobless.
Education Minister Bratya Basu echoed similar sentiments, stating that the department is exploring ways to reinstate untainted teachers through a fast-track process.
However, no concrete reinstatement has occurred yet. Critics argue that the state government is wary of acting unilaterally without judicial clarity, fearing contempt of court.
Opposition’s Take
The BJP, which has emerged as the main opposition in West Bengal, has used the SSC scam as a central campaign theme. It has accused the Trinamool Congress of orchestrating the scam and has promised corrective measures if voted to power.
Meanwhile, the CPI(M) and Congress have focused on the broader issues of transparency and the collapse of public trust in the recruitment process.
Voices from the Ground
Meet Piyali Das, a former upper primary school teacher who had ranked within the top 50 in her district.
“I studied for years, cleared the exam with flying colors, and served my school with full dedication. Now, I’m jobless—not because of anything I did, but because others cheated the system. I just want my job back.”
Or Raju Pramanik, a library staff member whose appointment was never questioned:
“We are asking the Prime Minister to listen. Not as a politician, but as a leader who believes in justice. We are not corrupt—we are collateral damage.”
These are not isolated voices. They represent thousands who feel betrayed by the very institutions that promised them fairness and security.
Human Rights and Ethical Questions
The controversy raises larger questions: Can the state punish an entire batch for the crimes of a few? Is it ethical to ask teachers, who’ve served for over 5-6 years, to sit for fresh exams again? Shouldn’t there be an independent mechanism to verify and reinstate genuinely deserving candidates?
Human rights organizations have taken interest, with some planning to write to the National Human Rights Commission and even the President of India.
A Glimpse at the Future
If Prime Minister Modi meets the teachers, it could potentially open the door for executive or legislative intervention. While PMs rarely interfere directly in judicial matters, symbolic support or a public statement could change the narrative and compel the state and central education bodies to act more decisively.
Meanwhile, December 31, 2025, looms as the deadline for West Bengal to complete fresh recruitment. For the untainted, it’s a race against time—to clear their names, reclaim their jobs, and rebuild their lives.
The story of West Bengal’s untainted SSC teachers is not just about jobs—it’s about dignity, justice, and the battle between corruption and integrity. Their appeal to Prime Minister Modi during his Alipurduar visit is more than a request for a meeting—it’s a desperate cry for recognition and redressal.
Whether the Prime Minister listens or not, these teachers are determined to fight. In classrooms, they taught discipline and perseverance. Now, on the streets, they’re learning how to use those lessons in pursuit of justice.
DO FOLLOW
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Calcutta High Court Judgments (related to SSC scam):
https://www.calcuttahighcourt.gov.in/ -
Supreme Court of India (case status and orders):
https://main.sci.gov.in -
West Bengal School Service Commission (official recruitment details):
https://www.westbengalssc.com/ssc/ -
Department of School Education, Government of West Bengal:
https://banglarshiksha.gov.in/ -
Prime Minister’s Office, India:
https://www.pmindia.gov.in/
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