Terminated, asked to return salaries by SC, ‘tainted’ SSC candidates launch protest

A week after the untainted teachers staged a blockade at the West Bengal Central School Service Commission (SSC) office demanding the release of a list separating them from tainted candidates and the publication of OMR sheet mirror images, those labelled as tainted have now adopted similar protest tactics.

 

Following the Supreme Court's directive, individuals identified as tainted candidates not only lost their jobs but were also ordered to return the full salaries earned during their employment.

 

Meanwhile, the apex court later provided temporary relief to the untainted teachers, reinstating them in their positions until December 31, 2025, to prevent disruption in the state's school education system. However, no such reprieve was extended to the tainted candidates.

 

On Monday, the tainted group attempted to march to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s residence, demanding that steps be taken to recognize them as untainted. When police blocked their march, some protesters clashed with law enforcement. Later in the night, they launched a sit-in protest outside the SSC office, insisting on a meeting with the commission chairman.

 

Following the Supreme Court’s interim relief order for untainted teachers, issued in response to an appeal by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE), the state government released a list of those eligible to resume their posts.

 

Tainted candidates have challenged this classification, arguing that it has neither been established or upheld by the Supreme Court.

 

“In such circumstances when the Hon’ble court has failed to segregate, it would be inappropriate for the authorities to segregate when the issue has already reached its finality and has been settled,” they said in their letter to the chief minister.

 

They refuse to be called the “tainted” candidates, arguing that they were “allegedly identified in the OMR mismatch issue”. They claim that the “SSC has not preserved the OMR sheets in physical form or the mirror copies” and relied on “CBI image which has admittedly [been] not authenticated by any authority”.

 

These candidates demand that they be identified as “not found to be tainted” and allowed to continue their services. The tainted candidates also request for an “appropriate measure for salary submission for this month”.

 

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, three representatives of the protesting tainted candidates managed to forcibly enter the SSC office. According to reports, they were informed that the commission chairman might meet them later in the day.

India