Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, June 24, 2025, Kolkata : A sit-in protest has been announced for Wednesday, June 25, by the eligible Group C and Group D education staff under the banner of Odhikar Mancha, intensifying the ongoing movement surrounding the West Bengal school recruitment controversy. The protest will press for urgent action on three specific demands related to the employment and legal rights of 3,394 staff members deemed eligible.
The demonstrators are demanding immediate redress in the wake of administrative and legal actions that led to mass dismissals and a call for fresh recruitment, which has triggered widespread discontent among affected education workers across the state.
According to the call issued by Odhikar Mancha, the demands are as follows:
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Immediate publication of the certificate list for the 1,255 eligible Group C and 2,139 eligible Group D employees—a total of 3,394 candidates—who have already been declared qualified through official proceedings.
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Uploading of all scanned OMR sheets recovered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on the official SSC website to ensure transparency, enable cross-verification, and restore public confidence in the recruitment process.
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Reinstatement of all 3,394 eligible Group C and D education workers to their respective school positions in accordance with proper legal procedure, thereby ensuring no further delay in justice for those wrongfully affected.
This mobilization comes amid continued unrest in West Bengal’s education sector, following the Supreme Court’s cancellation of thousands of school appointments made from the 2016 recruitment panel. The move severely impacted many teachers and staff who had served for years, leading to legal petitions, hunger strikes, and ongoing protests.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has previously urged patience and expressed the state government’s willingness to file a review petition regarding the employment of Group C and D staff. However, with no concrete resolution in place, eligible candidates say they are left in limbo, prompting the renewed agitation.
Odhikar Mancha has positioned the sit-in as a peaceful and lawful assertion of rights, calling on both the government and the School Service Commission (SSC) to act without delay. The protest is expected to draw significant attention and participation from the affected teaching and non-teaching community and civil society allies.
As pressure mounts from all sides, the spotlight remains on how the government and relevant authorities respond to the intensifying demands for justice and reinstatement.