Views Now: Job Loss Fury - "Living Corpses" Cry Foul as Court Orders Panel Annulment
Views Now Desk / Durgapur / April 9, 2025
Kolkata: A wave of despair and outrage has engulfed the education sector in West Bengal following a landmark Supreme Court ruling that annulled the entire appointment panel for thousands of teachers. Job losers, describing themselves as "living corpses," are demanding accountability and justice, questioning the School Service Commission's (SSC) handling of the recruitment process.
The crux of the controversy revolves around the SSC's alleged failure to adequately differentiate between eligible and ineligible candidates during the appointment process. The Supreme Court's decision, effectively terminating the employment of thousands, has sparked widespread protests and legal challenges.
"We have been reduced to living corpses," lamented one affected teacher, echoing the sentiments of many who claim they were unfairly dismissed. "Our lives have been shattered, and the SSC's incompetence is to blame."
The court's decision hinged on the SSC's inability to provide clear, verifiable data regarding the eligibility of candidates. While the commission acknowledged errors and submitted lists of ineligible appointees, it failed to definitively identify those who were rightfully appointed.
Key points from the SSC's submissions include:
- Admission of Errors: The SSC conceded that numerous ineligible candidates secured jobs through expired panels and rank jumping.
- Inability to Initially Identify Ineligibles: Initially, the commission claimed it lacked the capacity to identify ineligible candidates.
- Quantifying Errors: The SSC later provided data highlighting specific numbers of ineligible appointments across various categories.
- OMR Discrepancies: The commission also reported significant discrepancies in OMR scores, further complicating the issue.
- Failed Segregation: Despite claiming segregation was possible, the SSC failed to provide sufficient evidence, such as hard copies or mirror images of OMR sheets, to substantiate their claims.
1
The Supreme Court's ruling explicitly stated that job cancellations are only justified when the segregation of eligible and ineligible candidates is impossible. The court emphasized that all efforts must be made to identify eligible candidates before resorting to wholesale cancellations.
Legal experts argue that the SSC's inability to provide clear, verifiable data ultimately led to the court's decision. Advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, representing the petitioners, asserts that the process itself was fundamentally flawed, rendering any attempt at segregation meaningless.
The fallout from the Supreme Court's ruling is expected to have far-reaching implications for the state's education system. Thousands of teachers face an uncertain future, while the SSC grapples with the aftermath of a decision that has ignited widespread public outrage. Views Now will continue to monitor this developing story and provide updates as they become available.
