Will Challenge Court Order Cancelling Primary Teachers’ Jobs: Mamata Banerjee
Kolkata:
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said that her government will challenge the Calcutta High Court order cancelling jobs of around 36,000 primary teachers in state-sponsored and aided schools.
She also urged those teachers who lost their jobs and their family members not to be depressed as her government is with them.
The Chief Minister also alleged that those teachers lost their jobs because of the ongoing agitation of the state government employees demanding a hike in their DA and bringing it at par with the central government staff.
“We have been getting appeals from the families of these 36,000 (teachers) who lost their jobs. I feel very bad. We have decided to move the division bench,” Ms Banerjee told reporters at the state secretariat.
The Calcutta High Court on Friday ordered cancellation of the appointments of 36,000 primary teachers in state-sponsored and aided schools as the due procedure was not followed in the appointment process.
“Do not be depressed, remember that our government is with you. This is our responsibility and we will fight this matter as per legal terms,” she said.
“Some claimed they were not trained but that is not correct. They have undergone training. But I will not support corruption or criminal activity,” she said.
On the state government employees agitating for hike in DA at par with central government employees, she said, “Go get a central government job, you will get more. When you are a state government employee, you will have to follow the state’s rule.” “DA is not mandatory but optional. If I have funds and I am satisfied with your work, I will pay you the hike as a reward. The Centre conducts a review of the performance of its employees which we do not do. But don’t think I am weak,” she said.
The service rules and financial policy of the Centre is different from that of the state government, she said.
Ms Banerjee said state government teachers are getting their salaries on the first day of the month, which was not the case during the Left Front rule.