Upper Primary teachers protest outside Bikash Bhavan over pending counselling and appointments

Selected candidates from the 2016 Upper Primary teacher recruitment staged a major protest outside Bikash Bhavan in Salt Lake on Saturday, demanding immediate completion of the counselling and joining process. The demonstration began in the Karunamoyee area as hundreds of candidates from different districts gathered to press for their pending appointments.

According to the protesters, a court directive issued in August 2024 had ordered the appointment of around 14,052 candidates in the Upper Primary recruitment process. While most candidates were appointed following the order, 1,241 qualified candidates are still waiting for counselling and joining despite being selected.

As the candidates marched toward Bikash Bhavan, police set up barricades to stop them from approaching the Education Department headquarters. This led to heavy pushing and scuffling between the protesters and the police, creating tension in the area. Ignoring the barricades, several candidates managed to reach the main gate, causing traffic disruption in the surrounding locality.

Many candidates expressed frustration over the long delay in recruitment. One protesting candidate said they had been waiting for their rightful job for eight years and questioned why some selected candidates had received appointments while others were still being left out without explanation.

By afternoon, the area outside Bikash Bhavan turned into a major protest site as candidates continued their sit-in demonstration. They stated that the agitation would continue until official dates for counselling are announced. Heavy police deployment remained in Karunamoyee and surrounding areas as attention shifted to the response of the Education Department.