A single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court on Friday barred police from taking any coercive action against the sacked SSC teachers, who are protesting in front of the Bikash Bhawan in Kolkata. Police had filed FIRs against the "untainted" sacked teachers, following a scuffle with police, which broke out last week.
The Calcutta High Court's single-judge bench of Justice Tirthankar Ghosh also directed the teachers to shift the venue of their sit-in-demonstration to a nearby place. The court also asked the state administration to arrange tents, bio-toilets and drinking water for the protesting teachers. The court directed that not more than 200 protesters will be allowed to assemble at the new venue of the sit-in-demonstration at a time.
On April 3 this year, the Supreme Court had cancelled 25,753 school jobs in West Bengal, upholding a previous order by the Calcutta High Court. The SSC teachers have been protesting for more than 15 days in front of the state education department headquarters Bikash Bhawan, following a verdict by the Supreme Court. On May 15, a major scuffle broke out between the protesting teachers and police. The teachers had broken the lock of the main gate and a major protest ensued throughout the day. On the same night, the police lathi-charged and several protesters received injuries. The West Bengal police said that 19 police personnel were also injured. Advocate Kalyan Banerjee, who represents the state government said, "The outsiders had come to the protest. The West Bengal government stands by the teachers." The protesting teachers said that they will abide by the law and follow the court's order once they get the copy of the verdict from Calcutta High Court.
The state government and West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) have already filed review petitions in the Supreme Court on the SSC issue.
The Calcutta High Court's single-judge bench of Justice Tirthankar Ghosh also directed the teachers to shift the venue of their sit-in-demonstration to a nearby place. The court also asked the state administration to arrange tents, bio-toilets and drinking water for the protesting teachers. The court directed that not more than 200 protesters will be allowed to assemble at the new venue of the sit-in-demonstration at a time.
On April 3 this year, the Supreme Court had cancelled 25,753 school jobs in West Bengal, upholding a previous order by the Calcutta High Court. The SSC teachers have been protesting for more than 15 days in front of the state education department headquarters Bikash Bhawan, following a verdict by the Supreme Court. On May 15, a major scuffle broke out between the protesting teachers and police. The teachers had broken the lock of the main gate and a major protest ensued throughout the day. On the same night, the police lathi-charged and several protesters received injuries. The West Bengal police said that 19 police personnel were also injured. Advocate Kalyan Banerjee, who represents the state government said, "The outsiders had come to the protest. The West Bengal government stands by the teachers." The protesting teachers said that they will abide by the law and follow the court's order once they get the copy of the verdict from Calcutta High Court.
The state government and West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) have already filed review petitions in the Supreme Court on the SSC issue.