Kolkata, Apr 7 (UNI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said her government would seek clarification from the Supreme Court regarding the eligibility of candidates following the cancellation of about 26,000 teaching and non-teaching staff positions in state-run schools by the apex court, and assured complete protection to the eligible candidates.

Addressing the teachers, who lost jobs following the apex court verdict upholding the Calcutta High Court order in the teachers recruitment scam, Banerjee said: "We will first seek the Supreme Court clarification regarding who are eligible candidates and who are non-eligible ones, and be assured that my government would not terminate any teachers and other staff and they will have full protection from losing employment."

"I will not allow eligible candidates to lose school jobs," Banerjee reiterated in the meeting convened at the Netaji Indoor Stadium for the teachers who lost their jobs after the Supreme Court verdict last week.

The apex court has cancelled the appointment of all teaching and non-teaching staff recruited by West Bengal School Service Commission in 2016 in which 25,752 teachers and Group C and D staff lost their jobs following a scam of cash-for-jobs in which many unqualified candidates got employment.

Since the SSC could not give a list of qualified and unqualified candidates as the records (OMR) were not available to the appointment authorities, the Apex court upheld the Calcutta High Court order.

Banerjee assured of her government's determination to defend the jobs of teachers and staff dismissed by the court, and said the schools faced disruption. She also said she was ready to go to jail if anyone wanted to penalise her.

"We would first seek SC clarification with top lawyers of the country regarding eligible and non-eligible candidates, then move forward to ensure that the qualified candidates do not lose their jobs."

"You have not received any termination letter, then go to school voluntarily and teach students," the West Bengal CM told the gathering.

She alleged there is "a huge conspiracy against her government" to collapse the education system, and blamed the BJP for allegedly targeting Bengal. She also attacked CPI-M leader and advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya for moving the case in 2022.

"If you can not provide jobs, you have no right to terminate the job of someone," Banerjee said, referring to the advocate moving the court of law.

UNI PC BD RN