**SEO Title:** Jobless Teachers Detained in West Bengal Protest for Rights
**Meta Description:** Nearly 50 jobless teachers were detained in West Bengal while protesting for their rights and demanding reinstatement without new exams.
**URL Slug:** jobless-teachers-protest-west-bengal
**Headline:** Jobless Teachers Detained in West Bengal as They Demand Reinstatement
In West Bengal, nearly 50 unemployed teachers, part of the Deserving Teachers Rights Forum, were detained at two locations while attempting to march to the state secretariat, Nabanna. The teachers gathered to advocate for their permanent reinstatement as eligible educators, opposing the state’s directive that requires them to retake recruitment exams.
The protest began at Sealdah Station and Esplanade, approximately 2 km apart, where hundreds of demonstrators assembled. However, they were met with a police presence that prevented them from proceeding. A member of the forum expressed frustration, stating, “We were not allowed to hold a democratic march in a peaceful manner. All we wanted was to meet with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to discuss our situation and demands.” In a symbolic gesture, some protesters removed their shirts to emphasize their plight.
Deputy Commissioner (Central) Indira Mukherjee confirmed that around 50 protesters were detained for attempting to disrupt traffic and public order. During the protest, a scuffle occurred near a mall in the Esplanade area, resulting in a protester sustaining a leg injury. She was promptly taken to a nearby state-run medical college hospital for treatment.
Mukherjee noted, “As police personnel, we cannot comment on their demands or movement. However, we had information about potential attempts to create a law and order situation.” Police also conducted ID checks in the vicinity, including boarding public buses to search for additional protesters.
The forum had previously announced plans to march from Sealdah to Nabanna, with some members intending to participate shirtless to highlight their demand for immediate reinstatement without the need for new recruitment exams. The protesting teachers have been engaged in an indefinite sit-in for the past 22 days outside the West Bengal Education Department headquarters. Their agitation follows a Supreme Court ruling on April 3 that invalidated 25,753 teaching and non-teaching appointments made through the 2016 School Service Commission (SSC) recruitment due to widespread irregularities.
Chinmoy Mondal, a spokesperson for the forum, stated, “We are determined to hold the protest march despite the threat of police action. If we are not allowed, we will discuss our next steps.” He also referenced the recent death of 35-year-old Prabin Karmakar, a teacher from Murshidabad, attributing it to the stress caused by the uncertainty surrounding their futures. “He was already under stress due to his medical condition. Upon hearing the Chief Minister’s statement that even deserving candidates would have to sit for fresh exams, his condition worsened, leading to a fatal cardiac arrest. He was the sole breadwinner of his family,” Mondal explained.
He urged the state government to expedite the hearing of its review petition in the Supreme Court, emphasizing, “No deserving and untainted teacher should be forced to relive the trauma of reappearing for exams due to the SSC’s faults.”
**FAQ Section:**
**Q: Why are the teachers protesting in West Bengal?**
A: The teachers are protesting to demand permanent reinstatement as eligible educators without having to retake recruitment exams, following a Supreme Court ruling that invalidated previous appointments.
