Dipak Barman
Because it resembles British-era rule, suman Biswas, a protesting candidate from the 2016 SSC panel who lost his job following Supreme Court’s order, said: “We oppose this decision. Therefore, without granting these teachers and non-teaching staff official govt employee status, the govt cannot, under any circumstances, bar them from political involvement. ”
Swapan Mandal, general secretary of Bangiya Sikshak O Sikshakormi Samiti, said: “Teachers and non-teaching staff in other states hold full govt employee status, which is why they are barred from political activities. The decision has sparked a debate, with several former MPs and MLAs from teaching backgrounds raising questions, noting that most schools in Bengal are govt-aided and existing acts permit political participation. Teachers have every right to participate in politics and govt cannot restrict it. Teachers and staff in govt-run schools in our state are already prohibited from engaging in politics for the same reason.
Kolkata: Aspiring teachers can be part of non-political organisations but active political activities would not be allowed, Bengal school education minister Dipak Barman said on Thursday. CM Suvendu Adhikari had said on Wednesday that new teachers recruited through West Bengal School Service Commission would not be permitted to take part in active politics.
State higher education minister Jagannath Chattopadhyay, speaking in Suri, reacted by saying: “This cabinet has taken a historic decision. There was a mindset in our state to involve teachers in active politics but that course correction has been made by the cabinet. A teacher’s primary role is to teach, not to participate in politics.”