May 25, 2025

Construction of a stage for protesting teachers in Kolkata began at a new site following a Calcutta High Court directive. The Calcutta High Court directed teachers and staff from West Bengal government-run and -aided schools, who lost their jobs due to a Supreme Court ruling, to shift their protest venue for public convenience. The State administration started constructing a bamboo stage near Salt Lake Central Park. The makeshift dharna mancha is expected to be completed by 2:30 to 3 pm. The protesters, part of the Deserving Teachers Rights Forum, will move to the designated site after inspecting it for basic amenities like water and toilets. The court's order came after petitions by the Deserving Teachers Rights Forum and the State government. Justice Tirthankar Ghosh ordered the protesters to move to Central Park in Salt Like, around 200 meters from their previous location to reduce disruption to commuters and office-goers. Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation was directed to provide essential amenities like drinking water and bio-toilet facilities at the new protest site. The court also advised providing temporary shelter, drinking water, and bio-toilets to protect the protesters from the summer heat. Police were instructed not to take coercive steps against the protesting teachers. Around 26,000 teaching and non-teaching staff from government-sponsored and -aided schools in West Bengal lost their jobs due to irregularities in the recruitment process. The new protest site aims to ensure smooth proceedings and public convenience.

Read More at Thehindu →

Tags: Protesting teachers, Kolkata, Calcutta high court, West bengal, Supreme court, Protests,