Bengal Govt Questions Contempt Plea in Teacher Hiring Case

Pune (Maharashtra) [India] April 23: The contempt petition was filed by teachers who got jobs in 2016 through the WBSSC. They said the government did not follow a High Court order. They wanted the court to check how many appointments were wrongly given. The teachers claimed they were not guilty and needed proof to be cleared. The High Court had earlier cancelled all appointments, saying no one could clearly tell who was innocent or guilty in the process.

Supreme Court Changes the Situation

The Bengal government said the contempt case could not continue because the Supreme Court changed the earlier order. On April 3, the top court allowed teachers who were not involved in any scam to work until December 31. The government also had to start hiring again. So, government lawyers told the High Court that the contempt plea was not valid anymore and should not be heard further.

Teachers Demand OMR Sheet Proof

The teachers said the only way to prove who was guilty or innocent was to see the original OMR sheets from the 2016 test. But the government replied that those sheets were destroyed as per rules, one year after hiring. The teachers claimed that copies still exist on three hard disks, which were found by the CBI during the investigation. They want these sheets to be shared with everyone, so the truth can come out clearly.

Fresh Agitation for Fair Hearing

Since Monday, many affected teachers have started protesting outside the WBSSC office. They say the OMR sheets should be made public now. The teachers feel hurt, as they studied hard and got their jobs honestly. They want people to know they did not cheat. The protestors are asking the government to act fast and show the data that can help them prove they were selected fairly.

Chief Minister’s Appeal Ignored

CM Mamata Banerjee asked the protesting teachers to stop their protest and return to their schools. She promised that the government would file a review petition in the Supreme Court. She also said they were still getting their salaries and should trust the system. But the teachers did not agree. They continued protesting on Wednesday, saying that promises were not enough—they needed action and proof to protect their careers.