'I can be jailed for speaking out': Mamata Banerjee as she meets sacked Bengal teachers

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. (Photo/ANI)

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday met with the sacked school teachers amid the ongoing recruitment controversy in the state. Expressing anguish over their situation, she said her “heart has turned into stone with sadness” and added that she “can be jailed for speaking out” in their support. Her remarks come as the state government faces mounting criticism over alleged irregularities in the hiring process.

Mamata Banerjee reiterated her support for the teachers whose appointments were cancelled amid the school jobs scam. “I stand by those who lost their jobs in schools. I will do everything to restore their dignity,” she said while addressing the affected teachers. Her remarks come at a time when the state is under intense scrutiny following a series of legal setbacks and public protests related to the recruitment irregularities.

At the meeting following the Supreme Court’s recent verdict on the Bengal school jobs case, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee firmly stated that she would not allow eligible candidates to lose their jobs.

“I will not allow those who are genuinely qualified to suffer because of others’ wrongdoing,” she said, assuring affected teachers that the government would explore all legal options to protect their employment and uphold fairness in the recruitment process.

The Bengal teachers' recruitment scam revolves around large-scale irregularities in the hiring process for government school teachers and staff between 2014 and 2021.

The Calcutta High Court and the Enforcement Directorate uncovered evidence suggesting that unqualified candidates were appointed in exchange for bribes, bypassing merit lists. The scam has led to multiple arrests, including that of former education minister Partha Chatterjee and several senior officials. Thousands of appointees were later disqualified, sparking widespread protests and legal battles, with many claiming they were victims of a corrupt system despite following due procedure.