This situation in West Bengal encapsulates a deeply layered crisis—political, legal, and human. At its core is the future of thousands of families and the credibility of public institutions. The West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) recruitment scam has now spiraled into a full-blown moral reckoning for the Mamata Banerjee-led government, with real consequences for education, livelihoods, and public trust.
Mamata Banerjee’s response—equal parts emotional and defiant—may win her sympathy among her core base, but it sidesteps critical accountability. Her portrayal of herself as a victim of a political conspiracy and “mental attack” only intensifies the frustration of those affected. While she acknowledged irregularities and promised a legal battle, her government has not taken the most logical step available to it: present a clear, court-certified list of “untainted” candidates.
Suppose the WBSSC and the state government were truly confident that around 19,000 of the 25,753 teachers were eligible. Why didn’t they produce a vetted, segregated list when the Calcutta High Court and Supreme Court repeatedly asked for one?
The consequences of this inaction are severe:
-
The “innocent majority” of teachers—those who cleared the exams fairly and have taught students for years—are now unemployed, discredited, and grieving.
-
The students suffer too. They’ve lost trained, experienced teachers mid-session, which is bound to damage learning outcomes.
-
The broader public sees yet another institution compromised, deepening cynicism toward state-run exams, job recruitments, and governance itself.
The opposition’s attacks are predictable and politically charged—especially Suvendu Adhikari's claims of a ₹700 crore scam involving Abhishek Banerjee. Whether or not these claims hold in court, the BJP has capitalized on a real governance failure: that the Trinamool government either did not or could not protect the rights of deserving candidates in time.
The crux is this: empathy is hollow without action. Mamata Banerjee’s promises won’t pay EMIs, feed children, or restore dignity. Teachers like Meenakshi and Rajat Haldar don’t need applause or symbolic solidarity. They need their government to act with competence and transparency.
This situation doesn’t demand melodrama—it demands administrative discipline. Submit the names. Prove eligibility. Restore what’s lost. Anything short of that is a betrayal of public trust and a stain on West Bengal’s education system.
