However, for the thousands of diligent candidates who took the State Level Selection Test (SLST), that modest ambition curdled into bitter disappointment. The reason? They were left in the lurch even as many allegedly ‘ineligible’ candidates made it to the merit list and secured jobs. Soon enough, there were malodorous whiffs of alleged political patronage and the sale of posts. All such allegations of irregularities were denied by the ruling Trinamool Congress government. For some 4,000 graduates and postgraduates caught in a limbo, there was nothing for it but to file petitions in courts, and as it slow-cooked there, sit in a dharna in central Kolkata.
They endured police batons, arrests, insults and tragedy—two protesters took their own lives and two others died of ill health. Sensing a scandal, the state government approached with inducements, but little ground was ceded. The breakthrough came on February 28, 2022, when a Calcutta High Court single-judge bench of Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged irregularities. Then, on May 5, the government gave in—it announced the creation of 5,000 additional teaching posts to accommodate the protesters.
Government teachers are recruited by the School Service Commission (SSC) through the SLST. Soon after the recruitment process started in 2017 following the exam (500,000 candidates took it), as many as 2,030 petitioners approached the Calcutta High Court, alleging various discrepancies. The protracted litigation has unearthed nearly 6,200 instances of alleged deviation from due process.
This story is from the May 30, 2022 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 30, 2022 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Heart Stopper
Cushions with tales of beauty, serenity, art and nature
THE NIPPON NARRATIVE
Say konnichiwa to good design and sayōnara to bad aesthetics, as this apartment in Bangalore is a lesson in how to use Japanese design effectively
RURAL RESPLENDENCE
This second home in a small village in Uttar Pradesh brings to life the beauty and simplicity of locally sourced materials
Curves in the Right Places
Arches may be taking over interior design, but how and where you place them in your home can make or mar the look of the room
Marvels in Mud
Here's how this humble material is changing the way we look at eco-friendly homes in India
DESIGN FOR THE AGES
Five homes, five distinct design styles that help decode how to curate age-appropriate spaces
TAKE FIVE
FROM RUGS TO CUSHIONS, THESE DECOR PIECES WILL GIVE YOUR INTERIORS AN INSTANT MAKEOVER THIS SEASON
TRENDY TABLESCAPES
At the turn of the season, three fashion labels throw a soiree that is stylish, suave and sophisticated
WHILE THE SUN SHINES
Bathed in natural light, this bright and airy penthouse that happens to be actor Sushmita Sen's family home in Mumbai is a perfect example of spring-summer decor
RINSE AND SHINE
Turn the simple act of washing and drying clothes into an art