The Supreme Court’s recent verdict has upended the lives of thousands of teachers in West Bengal, sparking both political controversy and personal crises.
Kolkata: A recent Supreme Court ruling has sent shockwaves through West Bengal, leading to the dismissal of 25,753 teachers and non-teaching staff whose appointments were found to be tainted by large-scale irregularities.
The landmark decision has triggered a political storm, with the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and opposition parties—including the BJP and the CPM—engaging in a fierce blame game.
However, beyond the heated political exchanges, a grim reality is unfolding for the thousands of now-unemployed educators, many of whom are struggling to cope with the financial and emotional turmoil. With mounting EMIs, dependent family members, and an uncertain future, these teachers are questioning why they must suffer for the state government’s alleged corruption.
“Everything Will Be Finished”: The Voices of the Unemployed
Among those directly affected is Pratap Roychowdhury, a former schoolteacher from South 24 Parganas, who until just a day ago, was earning a livelihood as an educator. Now, he finds himself unemployed overnight, grappling with an overwhelming sense of despair.
“When a man loses his job, the consequences are devastating—not just for him, but for his entire family. There are home loans, monthly EMIs, and many dependents who rely on this income. Everything will be finished,”
he lamented.
Echoing this sentiment, Amit Ranjan Bhuyan, a former physical science teacher for Class 9 and 10 students, shared his plight. He, like many others, had cracked a competitive exam and earned his position through hard work. However, he now finds himself jobless due to a recruitment scandal that, he insists, he had no part in.
“Some individuals engaged in corrupt practices, but why should we—the honest ones—be punished the same way as those who committed fraud? I have a nine-year-old daughter, a wife, and an elderly mother to support. With EMIs to pay and no income, how are we supposed to survive?”
Bhuyan asked, his voice filled with frustration.
The Supreme Court, while recognizing that some candidates were not directly involved in fraudulent activities, ruled that even the untainted individuals would have to relinquish their positions. The court, led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar, justified its decision by stating that the entire selection process had been “vitiated and tainted beyond resolution.”
In a strongly worded statement, the bench noted:
“Manipulations and frauds on a large scale, coupled with an attempted cover-up, have irreversibly damaged the integrity of the recruitment process. The legitimacy of the selection is completely denuded, and partial redemption is not possible.”
While the court ruled that salaries already paid to the dismissed employees over the past eight years need not be returned, it firmly stated that their employment was no longer valid. The West Bengal government has now been directed to reinitiate the hiring process within three months.
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“The State Government Is Responsible”
For the affected teachers, the blame lies squarely with the West Bengal government, which they accuse of fostering a system riddled with corruption.
“This government engineered this scam—how can we expect any support from them now?”
Roychowdhury remarked bitterly.
Bhuyan, too, expressed outrage at the injustice of the situation, particularly for those who had secured their jobs on merit.
“If I were 25 or 26, I could attempt another competitive exam. But I am 39 now. How do I restart my career at this stage? How can I be expected to crack another exam after 10 years? The Supreme Court has given the same punishment to those who engaged in corruption and those who did not. This is deeply unfair,”
he said.
Political Fallout: BJP vs. Trinamool Congress
The verdict has ignited a fresh political battle in West Bengal. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has vehemently criticized the Supreme Court’s decision, alleging that the BJP and the CPM conspired to disrupt the state’s education system. While she acknowledged that her government would abide by the ruling, she made it clear that she found it deeply unjust.
The BJP, on the other hand, has launched a scathing attack on the ruling party, accusing it of rampant corruption. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra took to social media, declaring:
“Lakhs of people are suffering because of the corrupt practices of the Trinamool Congress government. Where is Rahul Gandhi now? Where are the INDI alliance partners? Mamata Banerjee will surely go to jail for this.”
Uncertain Future for the Sacked Teachers
As political parties continue to clash over the scandal, thousands of families across West Bengal are facing an uncertain future. Many of the dismissed teachers have dedicated years of their lives to educating students, only to find themselves abandoned by the system they once served.
With the government now tasked with conducting fresh recruitments within three months, the affected teachers are left wondering whether they will be able to reclaim their lost jobs—or if their careers in education have been permanently derailed.
For now, they wait, hoping for a resolution that brings justice—not just to the victims of the corruption scandal, but also to those who were wrongfully caught in its crossfire.
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