Unemployed teachers 'unhappy' with SC's order, says December 31 feels like “Death Date”

Anger, heartbreak, and sorrow dominated the air around Kolkata’s Y Channel in Dharmatala as the Supreme Court delivered its verdict on the fate of thousands of ‘qualified’ but jobless teachers. Although the court granted temporary relief by allowing them to work till December 31, the emotion on the ground was far from joyous. Many viewed this as a countdown to losing their careers permanently.

The apex court, headed by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, acknowledged the complexity of the situation and allowed continued service and salary payments to the affected teachers until the end of the year. However, many on the ground expressed that the verdict felt more like a ticking clock toward termination, rather than a solution.

“I don’t see this as relief,” said Arvind Majumdar, one of the aggrieved teachers at the protest site. “The court says I’m qualified. Then why a deadline? December 31 is nothing but a death sentence for our jobs. Why can’t we work till retirement like any other teacher?”

The pain was echoed across the protest. A number of the affected individuals—both teachers and non-teaching staff—have continued their demonstration at the heart of the city. Despite some initial buzz following the verdict, the mood quickly turned gloomy as the implications of the judgment set in.

The verdict only directly addressed ‘qualified’ teaching staff, leaving out the non-teaching employees entirely, which has sparked further frustration. “This isn’t a full verdict. It’s a partial relief at best,” said a teacher standing beside affected clerical staff. Many protestors demanded full reinstatement of all qualified employees while removing those who were proven to have obtained jobs illegally.

The Supreme Court’s Thursday judgment stems from the 2016 SSC recruitment panel, which led to the loss of over 25,000 jobs after irregularities surfaced. The Central Board of Secondary Education had pleaded for time to continue services of those deemed eligible, while preparing for a fresh and lawful recruitment drive.

As it stands, the court has permitted employment and pay until December 31, but what happens after that remains uncertain. With emotions running high, and many teachers refusing to join duty as a mark of protest, the struggle for job security continues with renewed intensity in West Bengal’s education sector.