Kolkata: Hundreds of non-teaching staff in West Bengal protested at Bikas Bhawan, the state education department headquarters, on Monday. They demanded immediate reinstatement of their jobs and opposed any new examination process. These protesters identify as ‘untainted’ by a large-scale recruitment scam that led to over 25,000 job cancellations.
Supreme Court Ruling on 2016 SLST Irregularities
The Supreme Court invalidated 25,753 teaching and non-teaching positions across state-sponsored and aided schools on April 3 . This far-reaching decision followed findings of extensive irregularities in the 2016 State Level Selection Test (SLST) . The affected employees included individuals from Group C and Group D categories.
The court labeled the irregularities as “large-scale,” pointing to a system of “institutional corruption.” Protesters assert they lost their livelihood despite securing jobs without personal wrongdoing, victims of this broader corruption.
Following its verdict, the Supreme Court directed the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) to arrange for new recruitment. This fresh process must conclude by August 31, 2026 . The court provided an exception, allowing 15,403 ‘untainted’ teaching staff to continue their employment until the deadline for new appointments.
Non-Teaching Staff Protest and Demands
Unlike their teaching counterparts, the non-teaching staff received no interim relief from the Supreme Court order. On Monday, police forces prevented protesters from entering the Bikas Bhawan premises. Officials cited a lack of official permission for the rally and the absence of any prior appointment with authorities. Blocked from entry, the protesters then sat on an adjoining road, continuing their demonstration.
“We have been out of work for nine months without pay,” stated one protester. “If eligible or ‘untainted’ teaching staff can continue working, why are we out of jobs? Why should we sit for any examination when we were part of the eligible list?” Protesters aimed to meet with the SSC chairman and other senior officials to present their demands directly.
An ‘untainted’ staff member refers to an individual whose direct involvement in the school jobs scam was not proven. In total, 3,394 non-teaching staff members, categorized as ‘untainted,’ lost their positions. Their appointments were linked to the cancelled 2016 panel due to widespread irregularities.
Future Recruitment Eligibility
An earlier Supreme Court verdict clarified the path forward for some affected staff. ‘Untainted’ non-teaching staff from the 2016 panel are eligible to participate in the fresh recruitment process. Conversely, individuals categorically identified as ‘tainted’ are expressly barred from re-applying. The protesting staff, however, seek full reinstatement without undergoing a new competitive examination, arguing their prior selection was legitimate.
The ongoing protests highlight the significant impact of the job scam on thousands of individuals. While legal processes outline steps for new recruitment, many former employees continue to fight for their old positions, claiming innocence amidst systemic corruption.