West Bengal saw widespread protests on Wednesday by School Service Commission (SSC) teachers and non-teaching staffers who lost their jobs following a verdict of the Supreme Court last week. They gathered in front of the District Inspector (DI) of Schools (Secondary Education) offices, with tensions escalating into physical confrontations in several locations.
In Kolkata’s Kasba area, demonstrators forcibly entered the DI office by breaking the lock and pushing past security personnel. Their intention was to submit a memorandum to the DI, who was not present at the time.
Security officials at the scene initially attempted to calm the situation, but clashes soon broke out, prompting the police to resort to baton charges to disperse the crowd. The confrontation resulted in injuries on both sides.
Apart from Kolkata, similar scenes of protest by the dismissed candidates were witnessed in Midnapore. In Malda, chaos broke out during the protest at the DI office. Scuffles ensued between the police and the protesters in Bardhaman and North 24 Parganas district’s Barasat as well.
#WATCH | Kolkata | Trinamool Youth Congress and Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) hold a protest march from College Street to Dharmatala against the Supreme Court's decision upholding the Calcutta High Court’s decision to cancel the recruitment of more than 25,000 teachers and… pic.twitter.com/nsxJMuLjoO
— ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2025
Addressing the media, Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma confirmed that police used force in Kasba, stating, “Six people were injured during the incident, one of whom required hospitalization. The police were compelled to act under the circumstances.”
At the same press briefing, Chief Secretary of West Bengal Manoj Pant defended the police action, claiming it was necessary due to alleged attacks on law enforcement and the destruction of government property.
He urged protesters to maintain peace and assured them that the government was actively seeking a resolution to the crisis.
“Some unfortunate incidents have taken place in a few areas today—perhaps instigated by certain individuals. Some teachers have continued their duties, and we commend them for that,” the chief secretary said.
Education Minister Bratya Basu echoed similar concerns, alleging that dismissed candidates were being provoked and incited. He called on them to choose between engaging constructively with the government or aligning with those promoting disruption.
“Destructive agitation and productive dialogue cannot go together,” Basu said.
He also reaffirmed the government’s support for the affected candidates, saying, “Even if they protest or take extreme steps, we stand by them. Our priority remains to protect eligible job seekers and to pursue a peaceful, lasting solution.”
