The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday verbally directed two protesting teachers to appear before the police for questioning in connection with violent clashes that erupted on May 15 outside Bikash Bhavan — the headquarters of the West Bengal Education Department.
Justice Tirthankar Ghosh, hearing petitions filed by teachers Sudip Konar and Indrajit Mondal challenging police notices issued to them, orally instructed the West Bengal government not to take any coercive action against the duo until Thursday. The judge also asked the state to produce the case diary relating to the FIR filed over the incident during the next hearing.
The petitioners are among several agitating school teachers who clashed with police on May 15 after storming past barricades and entering the Bikash Bhavan premises. The protestors — who lost their jobs following a recent Supreme Court verdict that annulled the appointments of around 26,000 teaching and non-teaching staff in state-sponsored and aided schools — have been staging demonstrations outside the building since the verdict.
The state’s counsel told the court that police notices had been issued to 15 individuals in connection with the unrest. Protesters allege that police used force, including baton charges, to disperse them, leading to injuries among many teachers. In turn, the police have claimed that some personnel were also injured during the scuffle.
The High Court’s interim protection for Konar and Mondal comes as tensions continue to simmer over the mass dismissal of thousands of educators in the wake of the apex court’s ruling on recruitment irregularities.
The matter will be taken up again on Thursday.
