Bratya Basu assures 'eligible candidates list' after 3-hour long meeting with protesting teachers

A crucial three-hour-long meeting between West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu and representatives of the job-terminated candidates concluded on a tense but hopeful note at Bikash Bhavan on Friday. While no concrete resolution was reached, the government assured that steps are being taken to bring clarity to the situation.

Following the meeting, the job-losing candidates revealed to the media that the discussion primarily revolved around two key demands—the publication of a categorized list of eligible and ineligible candidates and the release of mirror images of the OMR sheets used in the recruitment exam.

According to the representatives, in the presence of the Education Minister, the SSC Chairman confirmed that work has already started on preparing the eligibility list. Officials aim to complete the list by Sunday, and after seeking legal consultation, an attempt will be made to publish it by Monday. This move is expected to bring some clarity and transparency to the process that led to the termination of around 26,000 teachers following a Supreme Court order.

However, on the demand for mirror images of the OMR sheets, the response was less encouraging. Officials claimed that such images do not exist, emphasizing that even the CBI could not retrieve them, implying no records were maintained or preserved in that format.

Despite this assurance from the government, the terminated teachers remain skeptical. They stated that they are not satisfied or relieved just yet and that their agitation will continue until all demands are met, including reinstatement and full disclosure of recruitment irregularities.