Protesting Teachers Detained in Kolkata Over Demand for Reinstatement Without Re-Exams

KalimNews, May 30, 2025, Kolkata : Amid heightened tensions in Kolkata, over 130 protesting teachers were arrested on Friday as they attempted to march to the West Bengal state secretariat in a bid to demand reinstatement without the need for fresh recruitment exams. The protesters, many of whom had been sitting in front of Salt Lake’s Bikash Bhawan for over 20 days, resorted to taking the metro services from Sealdah, aiming to make their way to Nabanna, the seat of the state government.

The police, already prepared with a large contingent of over 800 constables and 25 RAF battalions, took swift action, arresting protesters as soon as they emerged from Sealdah station. Many were dragged into prison vans parked along the streets. Some of the protesters, trying to evade capture, jumped onto moving trams. Meanwhile, others attempted to continue their protest in Esplanade, only to meet the same fate—detention by the authorities.

In a symbolic act of protest, several male demonstrators removed their shirts to emphasize their demand for reinstatement without undergoing the new recruitment exams.

Among the arrested was Chinmay Mandal, one of the prominent leaders of the protest, who was detained from Dharmatala area. Desperation echoed in the cries of some demonstrators, with one pleading, “Chhere din, sir. Amake chhere din (Leave me, sir. Leave me),” as police officers forcibly pulled them by the collar.

Chinmay Mandal,

Several protesters were injured during scuffles with police, including one demonstrator who was taken to a nearby hospital after suffering a leg injury during an altercation with female officers near a shopping mall. “We do not trust the police. We do not want to go anywhere with them,” the injured protester was overheard saying to Deputy Commissioner (Central) Indira Mukhopadhyay, when she suggested hospitalization.

As the police continued their crackdown, announcements at Sealdah station urged the assembled protesters to disperse. Despite this, some demonstrators managed to reach Esplanade, hoping to continue their march. However, their attempts were thwarted as the police detained them again, some even from malls around Dorina Crossing.

Forum spokesperson Chinmoy Mondal expressed his dissatisfaction, stating that the police had prevented them from peacefully marching. “All we wanted was a chance to meet Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and voice our concerns. This is our democratic right,” Mondal argued. He also highlighted the tragic case of 35-year-old Prabin Karmakar, a teacher from Murshidabad, who died of a cardiac arrest after hearing the Chief Minister’s recent announcement regarding new recruitment exams. Karmakar had been battling health issues, and the uncertainty surrounding his future had intensified his stress, according to Mondal.

The protestors, who had been staging an indefinite sit-in outside the Education Department’s headquarters, have been calling for the immediate reinstatement of those sacked as part of the 2016 School Service Commission (SSC) recruitment scam. The Supreme Court's April 3 verdict invalidated over 25,000 appointments, citing significant irregularities in the recruitment process. The protesters demand that they be allowed to resume their duties without sitting for new exams, which they view as unjust.

In response to the ongoing agitation, the West Bengal government had earlier this week issued a notification for the recruitment of over 40,000 teachers, including 24,000 posts to replace those affected by the Supreme Court ruling. However, the protesters view the new exams as an unfair measure and remain determined to challenge the process.

“We are determined to continue our protest,” Mondal stated. “We are not giving up on our rights, no matter the threats of police action.”

The authorities have maintained that their actions are aimed at preserving public order and preventing any disruption. “It is my responsibility to ensure law and order in my jurisdiction,” said DC Indira Mukhopadhyay. She also mentioned that additional measures, such as conducting ID checks in surrounding areas and boarding public buses to search for hidden protesters, were undertaken to control the situation.

Despite the arrests and police presence, the Deserving Teachers Rights Forum remains resolute. The group plans to continue its struggle, demanding that the state government re-examine the decisions made in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling and reinstate them to their rightful positions without the need for further exams.

As the situation unfolds, it is clear that the issue of teacher recruitment, tainted by past corruption and judicial scrutiny, remains a flashpoint for protest in West Bengal.