Cal HC seal on SSC protest shift, asks govt to show humane face
Times of India | 24 May 2025
123 Kolkata: Protesting teaching and non-teaching staff at Bikash Bhavan were directed by the Calcutta High Court on Friday to move to Central Park, limiting the number of protesters to 200 at a time.The state was asked to act with a "humane face" and provide a temporary structure against the scorching heat.The police were directed not to take any coercive action against any accused, including the two protesting teachers who were summoned. The West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE) was also directed not to give any effect to the show-cause notices issued to individuals following the incident of May 15.A few representatives of the ‘Jogya Sikkhok-Sikkhika Adhikar Mancha' (2016 SLST) were present in the HC on Friday. While extending his sympathy to the teachers' cause, Justice Tirthankar Ghosh said it was their duty to ensure that law and order were not violated in the area. "You protest, don't do anything where the Court will have to interfere repeatedly."He stated, "Everyone has a right, exercise your democratic right to protest, I have no problem, but do it near Central Park." When the teachers insisted that they were protesting in the service lane where buses don't ply, Justice Ghosh said there are many offices there. "You are protesting for a cause. I have full sympathy for you... But you have been protesting for some time now, you won't be able to tell when the protest will end.I have to come to a solution so that residents and office-goers are not affected."While he directed agitators to ensure that only 200 members are present at the place of agitation at a time on a rotational basis, he also directed the state to treat the agitators with a "humane face" and, if possible, for the administration to ensure a temporary structure is made available to agitating members so that the scorching heat does not affect their health. The municipality was directed to arrange for drinking water and bio-toilets.The state, represented by Kalyan Banerjee, repeatedly pointed out the involvement of outsiders. When Banerjee said the agitators should not bring any politicians, Justice Ghosh said, "In a country like India, is it possible to give a direction like that?"Justice Ghosh directed agitators to give names of 10 people to the ACP North, Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate, who would coordinate with the police. "In case there are other sympathisers approaching the agitators, the same would be communicated to the police authorities present at the site, and it would be mutually decided by the police authorities and members of the organisation to permit such individuals at the site," Justice Ghosh directed.Counsel representing the two teachers called by the police, Sudipto Moitra, informed court that they cooperated with the Bidhannagar North PS.As there were no further complaints to date after a sporadic incident on May 15, the judge directed the police authorities "to go slow" in respect of all the accused associated with the case filed by Bidhannagar North PS, including the two. "If any individual is called in connection with the aforesaid case, he would cooperate with the investigation. However, the police authorities will not take any coercive steps against any accused till further orders of this Court," the judge directed.The petition will again be taken up on July 4. Chinmay Mandal, one of the prominent faces of the protest, said, "We will hold a meeting to decide about the shifting to Central Park."Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Brother's Day wishes, messages and quotes !