'Who went to court?' Kunal Ghosh fumes over HC's stay on sacked staff allowance

The Calcutta High Court's interim stay on the West Bengal government's decision to provide allowances to non-teaching staff who lost their jobs due to a Supreme Court order has ignited a strong reaction from Trinamool Congress (TMC) state general secretary Kunal Ghosh. Ghosh expressed fierce anger, stating, "The state had taken a decision out of humanity, and even that is being challenged in court! Who are these people going to court? Remember them."

The Supreme Court had cancelled the entire 2016 SSC panel due to allegations of widespread corruption, leading to the termination of approximately 26,000 teaching and non-teaching staff. While teachers were later permitted to continue working in schools until December of the current year, the apex court upheld the old directive for Group C and D employees, leaving them jobless. In consideration of their plight, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had announced the decision to provide allowances to these non-teaching staff out of humanitarian concerns.

However, this decision was challenged in the Calcutta High Court, with petitioners claiming it was illegal. On Friday, Justice Amrita Sinha issued an interim stay on the state's directive in response to this petition, temporarily halting the allowance payments. This ruling has been a major setback for the state government and the affected employees.

Immediately after the High Court's order, Kunal Ghosh voiced his strong indignation. He remarked, "Our humanitarian Chief Minister took this decision for those who lost their jobs to support their families. But who went to court against that announcement? Remember them. I cannot say anything about the court; we respect the court. But I will tell you, my friend, remember your companions on the path. Who stands by you, and who is prepared to snatch away jobs, prevent allowances, and play opposition politics by making people cry."