Your jobs are safe for now, please return to your schools: Mamata tells protesting teachers
Education minister Bratya Basu asked the protesting teachers not to do anything that could weaken the review petition which the state was planning to file
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday (April 22) urged the teachers who are protesting on the streets after losing their jobs to return to work.
Speaking at an event in Midnapore, Banerjee also vowed to protect the salaries of the teachers and the non-teaching staff.
Thousands of teachers whose appointments were axed following a Supreme Court ruling continued an overnight protest on Tuesday at the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) office in Salt Lake.
Mamata’s assurance
“You don’t need to worry about who is tainted and who is not. You only need to worry about whether you have your job and whether you are getting your salaries on time,” the chief minister said.
Also Read: Bengal school jobs ‘scam’: Protesting teachers lay siege to SSC office
“The list to identify the tainted and untainted teachers remains with the government and the courts. We assure you that your jobs are safe for now and you will get your salaries. Please return to your schools and resume classes. I have spoken about this several times since last night. We are with you,” she added.
Review petition
The chief minister said a review petition for Group C and Group D staff who have lost their jobs will also be filed before the Supreme Court.
“Keep your faith in us till then,” said Mamata.
In Kolkata, West Bengal education minister Bratya Basu asked the protesting teachers not to do anything that could weaken the review petition which the state was planning to file in the Supreme Court.
Also Read: Bengal teacher recruitment scam: SC order just temporary relief, say 'untainted' teachers
He told the media that the education department was working to ensure that those deemed eligible can continue with their jobs in accordance with the court's order.
"We are working in the interest of those who lost their jobs, and will continue to do so," said Basu.
SC's ruling
On April 3, the Supreme Court invalidated the appointment of 25,753 teachers and staffers in state-run and aided schools, calling the entire selection process "vitiated and tainted".
"According to the Supreme Court verdict, eligible teachers have been requested to continue in their schools till December 31. Our department is working on the salary issue," Basu said.
Kolkata protest
More than 2,000 teachers who lost their jobs as a result of the Supreme Court order started a sit-in outside the office of the WBSSC on Monday evening (April 21).
Also Read: Jobless after SC verdict, Bengal teachers take their fight to Delhi
They demanded that it publish the list of candidates who were recruited on the basis of merit and those who got appointment by paying bribes.
No food allowed
The teachers have surrounded the WBSSC office. Its chairman Siddhartha Majumdar has been inside the office building since Monday evening.
The protesters have refused to allow food inside the premises, and said they won’t budge until they get justice.