Jobless teachers break into Kasba DI office demanding SSC list, police lathi-charge

Tension broke out at the District Inspector (DI) office in Kolkata's Kasba as a group of jobless school teachers forcibly entered the premises, demanding the School Service Commission (SSC) publish the list of eligible and ineligible candidates. The protesters first climbed over the main gate, then broke the lock and entered the building, bypassing police barricades. Inside the office, they began a sit-in demonstration.

The agitators are among over 25,000 teachers whose appointments were cancelled following a Supreme Court order that scrapped the 2016 SSC panel. The teachers have been demanding that the state government and SSC submit a detailed list of eligible and ineligible candidates to the court. They allege that the delay in submitting this list has led to the mass cancellation of jobs. Protesters said their demand is for transparency and the immediate release of the names as directed.

Amid the crowd and agitation, one teacher reportedly collapsed and required assistance. Protesters continued their sit-in inside the DI office even as police attempted to control the situation. Later, allegations surfaced that police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the gathering. Following police intervention, the teachers were forced to leave the premises.

This demonstration came days after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addressed jobless teachers at a public meeting and assured that the government would file a fresh appeal in the Supreme Court. She stated that the state would request permission to submit the eligibility list and also seek reconsideration of the court’s order. The Chief Minister added that the state government was committed to protecting the jobs of eligible teachers and advised them to voluntarily return to schools and begin teaching.

The protest in Kasba was part of a broader call for DI office demonstrations across districts. Similar protests were reported in Medinipur, Malda, and other regions. Jobless teachers have announced that they will continue their movement until the list is published and their demands are addressed by the authorities.