States » EastPosted at: Oct 28 2026 7:35PM


Bengal bars future SSC-recruited teachers from direct political participation

Kolkata, Oct 28 (UNI) In a major step to free educational institutions from political interference, the BJP government in West Bengal on Wednesday announced that teachers recruited through the School Service Commission (SSC) in future will not be allowed to participate directly in politics or contest elections to panchayats, municipalities, the state Assembly or the Lok Sabha.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced the decision after the state Cabinet meeting at Nabanna on Wednesday, clarifying that the restriction would apply to future recruits and not to existing teachers who are already holding elected or political positions.
“The new policy will not apply to the teachers who are already recruited but from now onward the teachers who will get appointment through SSC will not be allowed to participate in direct politics. There are many states where teachers are not allowed to contest elections or participate in direct politics,” the chief minister said.
He said the condition would be incorporated into future appointments, as no such legal provision had existed when the current teachers were recruited.
The chief minister cited the practices followed in other states, including Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, to explain the decision, asserting that teachers in West Bengal would also be barred from direct political involvement under the new rules.
“The quality of education has deteriorated during the previous governments. We want to bring it back and this is major step towards that. Educational institutions are like temples and we will do everything to maintain the sanctity of that place,” he added.
The move comes amid the government's broader push to create employment opportunities and reform the education sector.
Adhikari said the Cabinet had approved the creation of around 1,200 additional posts on Wednesday, following approval for 45,000 posts at an earlier meeting.
Across the past few Cabinet meetings, the government has paved the way for the creation of approximately 60,000 posts, he said.
The Cabinet also gave its final approval to the state's new industrial policy, which the chief minister will formally unveil at Nabanna Sabhaghar on November 5.
The policy is aimed at attracting fresh investments and promoting industrial growth in the state.
The decisions on recruitment, political participation by future teachers and industrial development were among the key outcomes of the Cabinet meeting. UNI SAG CDS
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