Kolkata, December 5: India’s Calcutta High Court on Wednesday reinstated the jobs of 32,000 primary school teachers whose appointments were cancelled last year, delivering relief to thousands who had been fighting a protracted legal battle over alleged irregularities in a 2014 recruitment process.
A division bench set aside a single-judge ruling that had scrapped the appointments, prompting celebrations across West Bengal as teachers smeared colours on each other and distributed sweets. Many said the decision restored not only their employment but also their dignity.
Pritam Samanta, a 31-year-old teacher from East Burdwan, said the verdict lifted a heavy financial burden. “I had taken a loan of 1 million rupees for home renovation and spent years worrying about repayment,” he said. “We have regained our respect. We were part of a political conspiracy.”
Mallika Pal, a teacher from Hooghly, said the ruling would help her support her ailing father, whose monthly medical expenses range between 15,000 and 20,000 rupees. “I have a young daughter as well. Although my husband supports me, I wanted to take care of my parents with my own earnings,” she said.
For some, the stigma of being linked to the disputed recruitment panel had immediate consequences. Arup Kumar Saha, a head teacher in North 24 Parganas, said a bank rejected his recent loan request after learning he was part of the contested batch. “It was extremely embarrassing,” he said. “Now I will go back and tell them my name has been cleared.”
Mousumi Roy, a school head in Bhangar, said teachers had endured humiliation despite “no acceptable evidence” against them. Fearing the worst, she had delegated her duties during her last visit to school to ensure operations continued smoothly. “After today, I will return with my head held high,” she said.
The long-running case had left thousands of teachers in limbo for more than two years, affecting livelihoods and school operations. The state government has not yet issued a formal response to the court’s latest order.
