Teachers Rally in Darjeeling Against HC Verdict; Strike withdrawn at the request of Anit Thapa

KalimNews, December 18, 2025, Darjeeling : The indefinite school shutdown in Darjeeling, called by the Sanyukta Madhyamik Sikshak Sangathan (SMSS), saw a significant rally in Darjeeling town today, with hundreds of teachers participating to protest the recent Calcutta High Court ruling that invalidated the appointments of 313 teachers under the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA). The teachers’ body, representing secondary school educators from the region, has called for the closure of all schools in Darjeeling, Kurseong, Mirik and Kalimpong until further notice.

At the heart of the rally were teachers who, despite respecting the High Court's verdict, voiced their dissatisfaction with the lack of a proper recruitment process and the ensuing consequences they are facing. Several teachers shared their stories, stressing their sincere contributions to the education system despite the absence of a formal recruitment framework in the region.

One teacher stated, “We were asked to take over the responsibility of educating students when there were no teachers available. We worked hard, and we proudly say that our students scored high marks in the board exams. Our students have achieved 82-83% in the board exams, and even the Higher Secondary (HS) section has been functioning only because of our efforts. People may call us unqualified, but the results speak for themselves.”

Another teacher added, “Why were we not called illegal when we were working as volunteer teachers? After so many years, when our appointments were finally approved, why are we suddenly deemed illegal?”

After the rally teachers met Anit Thapa, the Chief Executive of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration at Gorkha Rangamanch Bhavan, where Thapa, the Chief Executive of the GTA, addressed the teachers. He expressed his strong support for those affected and urged them to reconsider their indefinite strike. Thapa assured the teachers that the issue is being pursued legally and promised to stand by them through the ongoing legal battle.

In his address to the teachers and the gathered Sabhasads (elected GTA members), Thapa said, “This is a legal fight and should be fought legally. We will go to another bench and we will win. I have already spoken with the highest state authorities, and I am going to Kolkata tomorrow for this. We have followed the rules that are in the system.”

Thapa emphasized that the issue was not the teachers’ fault but rather a consequence of years of administrative lapses. “I will fight this war for you until the end,” he declared, promising that the teachers' jobs would be confirmed within the GTA tenure. He also reassured the teachers that the entire GTA is with them in their struggle, adding, “You are discouraged, but all of the Sabhasads are with you. I have fought through sorrow and despair myself, and I understand your pain and discouragement.”

Thapa further cautioned against the dangers of politicising the issue, saying, “Playing politics with money is dangerous. Someday, that money will burn him. There are more people in the hills who want to take a job than to provide one. It’s very bad, and whoever snatched the job will have to face the punishment of God for their sins. Let us not go for destruction and do tit-for-tat, but defend yourself.”

His address was a clear appeal to the teachers to remain calm and pursue the issue through proper legal channels, without resorting to actions that could cause further harm to the education system of the Darjeeling hills.

The protest comes after the Calcutta High Court’s ruling on Wednesday, which cancelled the appointments of 313 teachers working in government-aided schools under the GTA, citing irregularities in the recruitment process. The court found that the appointments lacked a valid recruitment mechanism and failed to meet statutory requirements. It also noted that the state government had failed to justify the approval granted to the appointments and raised concerns about the teachers' qualifications.

The SMSS has warned that the ruling could have far-reaching consequences not only for the 313 affected teachers but also for retired educators, current teachers, and volunteer staff across the hills. They expressed concern that vacancies in mother-tongue subjects may be filled by teachers from outside the region.

In response, SMSS has called for the indefinite suspension of academic activities in all 360 GTA-run schools across Darjeeling, Kurseong, and Kalimpong. General Secretary Santosh Khadka of SMSS pointed out that the lack of formal recruitment rules in the region was the root cause of the issue, and that the teachers should not be held responsible for administrative failures.

The protest and shutdown follow a deep sense of injustice among the teachers, who have long been working without formal recruitment mechanisms. As the legal battle continues, teachers remain hopeful that their jobs will be secured and that the system will eventually be reformed to prevent such issues in the future.

The GTA, meanwhile, is considering appealing the single-judge bench's order to a higher bench in the Calcutta High Court. Thapa, in his speech, reaffirmed that all possible efforts would be made to ensure justice for the affected teachers. "We will adopt all possible ways to ensure justice for the 313 teachers," he added, signaling his commitment to the cause.

The situation remains tense, and the indefinite shutdown shows no signs of ending unless a resolution is reached through legal or administrative means. 

Meanwhile, at the request of Anit Thapa, the GTA Chief Executive, SMSS has called off its strike temporarily.