Did Emotion Save 32000 Primary Teachers Jobs? Bikash Ranjan Explosive on High Court Verdict
Primary Teachers Job: Approximately 32,000 primary teachers in the state have breathed a sigh of relief following a recent verdict by the Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court. Through this order, the Single Bench’s directive to terminate their jobs has been set aside, and the teachers have been reinstated. However, Senior Advocate and CPI(M) leader Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharyya has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the court’s ruling. According to him, emotion was given precedence over the law in this verdict, which could pave the way for further corruption in the future.
The High Court’s judgment and the subsequent reaction have created a significant stir in the state’s political and educational circles. Detailed below are Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharyya’s comments and the discussion regarding the future of the case.
Victory of Emotion in the Battle of Law?
Speaking to the media, Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharyya termed the verdict as ‘surprising’. He argued that in a judicial process where the rule of law and constitutional provisions should be the final word, the judges were influenced by humanitarian grounds.
- Humanitarian Perspective: The judges observed that losing a job after serving for a long time would bring economic and social disaster upon the concerned teachers and their families. This factor played a decisive role in the delivery of the judgment.
- Dilution of Law? Mr. Bhattacharyya believes that while the decision was taken for the sake of humanity, it has diluted the strictness of the law.
Institutional Corruption and Future Fears
As the lead counsel for the petitioners, Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharyya has repeatedly brought the issue of ‘institutional corruption’ to the forefront. He fears that reinstating the jobs might send the wrong message to corrupt individuals.
Key points raised by Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharyya:
- Encouragement of Corruption: He feels that such a verdict might lead those who obtained jobs through unfair means or the architects of corruption to think that if they can somehow sustain the job for a while, there is nothing to fear.
- Deprivation of Merit: He expressed regret that justice was not served to the eligible candidates who deserved a place on the merit list but were denied jobs due to corruption.
Future of the Case and Investigation
Although the jobs have been saved, the legal battle is not over yet. Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharyya clarified that the criminal cases regarding corruption will continue at their own pace. This verdict will not create any hindrance to the investigation process by the CBI or ED. However, the accused might feel mentally boosted or gain ‘extra strength’ as a result of this ruling.
Political Context and Supreme Court Possibility
This verdict is undoubtedly a major political relief for the state government. If 32,000 teachers had lost their jobs, the resulting instability and anger in the state would have been a significant challenge for the government. For now, the administration has been saved from that crisis.
On the other hand, Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharyya did not confirm immediately whether this verdict would be challenged in the Supreme Court. He stated that this decision depends entirely on the petitioners or the deprived job seekers. If they wish, they can approach the apex court. However, he remains determined that the fight against institutional corruption will continue.
