Tensions flared once again at the School Service Commission (SSC) office on Monday evening after the Commission failed to come up with the promised publication of the list of eligible and ineligible candidates, despite earlier assurances.
Following a meeting on April 11 between Education Minister Bratya Basu, SSC chairman Siddharth Majumdar and other officials at Vikas Bhavan, it had been announced that the list would be released within a week and a half after seeking legal consultation.
Accordingly, many anticipated the list’s release on April 21. However, by the evening, no official list had been made public.
Instead, reports from inside indicated that candidates who cleared the third round of counselling were now being deemed "valid." This unexpected development sparked outrage among the protesting candidates gathered at the SSC office. Disgruntled candidate are staging demonstration in front of the Commission’s office till Monday night.
As of reporting time, 13 protestors had locked themselves inside the SSC building, while hundreds more demonstrated outside. Police are struggling to control the situation and scuffle has reportedly broken out during attempts to manage the crowd.
“A dirty game has started inside,” said one protesting unemployed teacher. “They’re suddenly saying even the third counseling is valid. But based on what? Where’s the transparency?”
The situation quickly escalated, with protestors declaring that the education minister and the SSC chairman Majumdar would not be allowed to leave the premises until the list was officially published. The protesters are demanding complete clarity and accountability from the authorities.
This uproar follows the Supreme Court’s verdict that led to the dismissal of thousands of improperly appointed school teachers and staff. Since then, nearly 26,000 affected teachers and education workers have been demanding the immediate publication of a definitive list categorising eligible and ineligible candidates.
On April 13, in the midst of the controversy, the SSC reportedly sent a fresh list of about 19,000 names to the education department. This list was said to include details of ‘eligible’ laid-off workers along with their associated schools.
However, inconsistencies were quickly pointed out—some individuals who had not been cleared by the Supreme Court verdict allegedly appeared in the list, raising questions about its credibility and intent.
A source within the education department hinted that further scrutiny would be necessary, particularly because of these discrepancies. Still, the unemployed teachers, though skeptical, had been holding on to hope that clarity would come on April 21.
The SSC had earlier stated that “the rice and pebbles would be separated” by 6 p.m. on Monday, promising a decisive list. But as the day ended without action, that assurance seemed to crumble under the weight of fresh legal ambiguities and internal miscommunication— only fueling further unrest.
For now, the list remains unpublished and tensions outside the SSC office continue to rise, with protestors demanding answers and justice for what the demonstrators believe is an increasingly murky and politicised selection process.
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