Category Archives: Career / Jobs

Major Police Reshuffle in West Bengal Amid Rising Law and Order Concerns

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, December 4, 2024, Kolkata : In a sweeping move, the West Bengal government has executed a major reshuffle within the state police department, affecting at least four key positions involving key changes in leadership across multiple senior positions. The reshuffle comes amid heightened concerns over law and order following a series of incidents that have raised questions about the state’s security apparatus.

The reshuffle is seen as part of an effort to strengthen the police force’s performance and improve accountability. Among the most significant changes, R. Rajasekaran, the former Additional Director General (I) of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), has been transferred to the position of Additional Director General (Training). Rajasekaran’s successor in the CID role, however, has yet to be announced.

The reshuffle follows a series of incidents that have sparked growing concerns about the state’s law and order situation, particularly after allegations emerged involving out-of-state elements. Notably, the recent arms recovery case in Sealdah and the controversial Kasba incident, which allegedly involved Bihar-based criminals, have prompted public outcry and political scrutiny. These incidents have significantly raised questions about the efficiency of the state police.

During a meeting at Nabanna, the Chief Minister of West Bengal expressed strong dissatisfaction with the functioning of certain sections of the CID and the police force. She took to task the state’s Director General of Police (DGP) to take swift and decisive corrective actions.

“I will reshuffle the CID completely. If there are complaints against anyone, they must be cross-checked thoroughly. If the complaints are valid, strict action must follow,” the Chief Minister said. “No one will stop that action. And if anyone tries, I will not listen,” she added, indicating her zero-tolerance approach toward inefficiency and corruption within the police force.

As part of the broader reshuffle, Damayanti Sen, the current Additional Director General (Training), has been moved to the position of Additional Director General (Policy Making). In this elevated role, Sen will oversee the development and implementation of new policies for the state’s police force. Meanwhile, R. Sivakumar, the outgoing Additional Director General of Policy Making, has been appointed as the new Additional Director General of the Enforcement Branch (EB), a key role aimed at improving law enforcement operations.

In addition, Rajeev Mishra, the current head of the Enforcement Branch, has been shifted to the post of Additional Director General (Organisation and Modernization). This role is crucial in the ongoing effort to modernize the state police and improve organizational efficiency.

The reshuffle is not entirely unexpected, as the Chief Minister had indicated earlier that there would be significant changes within the CID and the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in an effort to intensify the fight against corruption. In a candid admission, she acknowledged that corruption persists among some lower-level police officers, which tarnishes the image of the state’s law enforcement agencies.

“The political leaders are often criticized for corruption. If any politician is involved in a corrupt act of just Rs 5, it is exaggerated to Rs 550,” the Chief Minister remarked. “However, politicians think long and hard before engaging in any form of corruption. It is the lower-level officers and staff in the police force who, unfortunately, get involved in corruption, and this is what gives a bad name to the state.”

Despite the sweeping changes at the top, sources within the police department have suggested that the reshuffle is part of routine administrative restructuring. However, the state has yet to announce a replacement for the vacant position of Intelligence Chief, which remains unfilled following the recent changes.

This reshuffle reflects the government’s growing determination to address the concerns over law and order in the state, as well as a renewed focus on improving the performance and accountability of the police force. With key leadership roles now reassigned, political and public observers will be closely watching for further developments in what is seen as a critical moment for West Bengal’s law enforcement system.

Supreme Court Questions Recruitment of Civic Volunteers, Orders Restrictions on Deployments in Sensitive Areas

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, October 15, 2024, Delhi: In a significant development, the Supreme Court of India has issued a major order regarding the recruitment and deployment of civic volunteers across the country. During a hearing today, Chief Justice DY Chandrachud raised crucial questions about how civic volunteers are recruited, their legal framework, and their placement in sensitive institutions like hospitals and schools.


This scrutiny comes in the wake of the controversial RG Kar case, where the role of a civic volunteer has been under the scanner. The main accused in the case, as identified by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in a newly submitted charge sheet, is a civic volunteer, sparking widespread concern. Many, including doctors and forensic experts, have expressed doubts about whether the accused acted alone, with large sections of the public echoing these suspicions. Despite these doubts, the CBI has continued to hold the civic volunteer as the prime suspect, facing mounting pressure from various quarters.

The Supreme Court’s curiosity regarding the civic volunteer system became evident during today’s hearing, as the Chief Justice questioned the state government on the processes involved in their recruitment. The court ordered the state to file an affidavit detailing several aspects of the civic volunteer system, including:

Recruitment process: How are civic volunteers recruited, and what legal framework governs their hiring?
Authority and oversight: Who oversees the recruitment process, and how are civic volunteers selected and trained?
Verification and deployment: What are the procedures for background verification of civic volunteers, and where are they being deployed?
Chief Justice Chandrachud emphasized the need for transparency and accountability, particularly in light of the involvement of civic volunteers in sensitive locations. In a bold move, the Supreme Court further directed that civic volunteers should no longer be appointed in critical areas such as hospitals and schools, given the potential risks associated with their deployment.

The court’s orders mark a crucial turning point in the ongoing debate surrounding civic volunteers and their growing presence in the state’s administrative and security infrastructure. Since their introduction, the role of civic volunteers has expanded significantly, but their accountability, training, and legal standing have remained contentious issues. The RG Kar case, which has drawn national attention due to the brutal rape and murder of a doctor, has placed the spotlight on this loosely regulated system.

The appointment of civic volunteers in government-backed projects like the Ratra Sathi project has also raised alarms. Senior lawyer Karuna Nandi expressed concern in court today about the expanding scope of civic volunteers under this program, claiming that recruitment levels have doubled without adequate oversight. This project, intended to support nighttime patrols and security, now faces criticism for its unchecked recruitment of volunteers, many of whom are believed to lack sufficient training or background checks.

In light of these revelations, today’s Supreme Court order has placed significant pressure on the state government to overhaul the civic volunteer system. The court’s insistence on accountability reflects rising concerns about the role of these volunteers in maintaining public safety, particularly when deployed in environments requiring higher levels of scrutiny and professionalism.

As the state government prepares to respond to the court’s orders, there is growing anticipation over what reforms might follow. For now, the Supreme Court’s directives have effectively halted the appointment of civic volunteers in hospitals and schools, setting a precedent for stricter regulation of their recruitment and deployment in the future. The next few weeks will likely see the state submit its affidavit, and the outcome of these proceedings could reshape the future of the civic volunteer system in India.

Mamata Banerjee Announces 12,000 New Police Jobs Amid Festive Cheer, Pending Court Case

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, 26 September 2024, Calcutta – In a significant announcement ahead of the Durga Puja festivities, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee revealed that 12,000 new positions will soon be available in the West Bengal Police. Speaking at a high-profile meeting in Nabanna on Thursday, Banerjee stated that the recruitment notification would be officially published on Monday, bringing a wave of excitement to job seekers across the state.


This surprise announcement came right after a major health sector review meeting. Banerjee’s declaration of the police recruitment drive has been met with enthusiasm, particularly among aspiring candidates eager for government employment. “It is a welcome relief ahead of the festive season,” said one job seeker, reflecting the collective optimism sparked by the announcement.

However, the Chief Minister also acknowledged that the recruitment process is subject to an ongoing legal case. “The posts will be filled, but we must first resolve the legal entanglements. Once that’s sorted, the recruitment will proceed,” Banerjee clarified, urging patience while the matter is addressed in court. The court case, which pertains to certain procedural aspects of the hiring process, has caused some delay, but the Chief Minister assured that once legal hurdles are cleared, the recruitment will move forward swiftly.

This development comes as a double boon, with the festive spirit of Puja amplified by the promise of new job opportunities in the state. The 12,000 vacancies, which include both new and previously unfilled positions, are expected to bolster the state’s law enforcement capabilities.

Mamata Banerjee’s announcement is seen as a strategic move ahead of the upcoming elections, showcasing her government’s focus on employment and development. With law enforcement playing a critical role in maintaining order in the state, especially during high-profile events like Durga Puja, the move is likely to boost both public morale and security in the region.

As the legal process unfolds, all eyes will be on Monday’s official notification, with thousands eagerly awaiting their chance to join the West Bengal Police force.

Darjeeling resident creates miniature toy train replicas for train enthusiasts

 Anurag Lakandry, a resident of Tindharia in Kurseong subdivision, has been making miniature models of toy trains for 10 years and selling them to clients ranging from hotels to train enthusiasts
Binita Paul, TT, Siliguri, 30.07.24 :  The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) — a Unesco-recognised world heritage site — has become the source of inspiration and income for a 30-year-old man from Darjeeling district.

Anurag Lakandry, a resident of Tindharia in Kurseong subdivision, has been making miniature models of toy trains for 10 years and selling them to clients ranging from hotels to train enthusiasts.

“I grew up with the toy train as my house is near the railway loco shed in Tindharia. Some of my family members have served in the DHR. I have developed a natural interest in the mountain railway,” said Anurag, who has made over 500 mini-models of the toy train.

Anurag uses metal sheets and scrap items. “I started making the models with cardboard and gradually switched to metal sheets. Also, I use nuts and bolts, fuse snips and wires to build the miniatures. I visit different shops to collect scraps and use those in making the models.”

The model trains are priced between ₹3,000 and ₹12,000.

Over the years, his work has earned him appreciation from various quarters. He even gets orders from the UK, Singapore and Russia.

Anurag said he got help from Michael Whitehouse, the chairman of UK-based Vintage Trains. “His help made me build perfect replicas of the toy train. He was the one who had sent me the motor tracks to make the models accurate,” he added.

In 2014, Anurag visited Thailand and Myanmar to attend workshops to improve
his skills.

HC directs state govt to ensure 1% reservation for transgender persons in public employment

Agencies, 16 June 2024, Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court has directed the Bengal government to ensure one per cent reservation for transgender persons in all public employment in the state. Noting that the state government adopted a policy of equal treatment in employment to transgenders, the court said the reservation has, however, not yet been made for them. 

Justice Rajasekhar Mantha directed the chief secretary of the Bengal government to ensure one per cent reservation for transgenders in all public employment. 
The high court order was passed on a petition by a transgender person, who succeeded in the Teachers’ Eligibility Test (TET) 2014 and also in the TET 2022, but was not called for counseling or interview. A
In the order passed on Friday, Justice Mantha noted that the Supreme Court had declared in a 2014 case that ‘hijras’ and eunuchs, apart from binary genders, be treated as “third gender” for the purpose of safeguarding their rights under Part III of the Constitution. 
The apex court had also upheld transgender persons’ right to decide their self-identified gender, and directed the Centre and state governments to grant legal recognition of their gender identity such as male, female or as third gender. 
Justice Mantha also noted that the top court had directed the Centre and the state governments to take steps to treat them as socially and educationally backward classes of citizens, and “extend all kinds of reservation in cases of admission in educational institutions and for public appointments”. 
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/hc-directs-state-govt-to-ensure-1-reservation-for-transgender-persons-in-public-employment-568193

NEET-UG exam row Grace marks given to 1563 candidates withdrawn Centre tells SC

PTI, New Delhi, Jun 13, 2024 : Amid a raging row over the NEET-UG examination, the Centre told the Supreme Court on Thursday it has cancelled the grace marks given to 1,563 candidates who took the examination for admission to MBBS and other such courses. They will have the option to either take a re-test or forgo the compensatory marks awarded to them for loss of time.

    
Refusing to stall the counselling for NEET-UG, 2024, scheduled to commence from July 6, the top court made it clear that the admission of successful candidates to medical colleges and other institutions will be subject to the outcome of the petitions which have sought reliefs like cancellation of the examination held on May 5 on grounds of question paper leak and other malpractices.

A vacation bench of justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta termed as “fairly reasonable” the decision to cancel the grace marks awarded to 1,563 candidates
on the recommendation of a panel set up to look into the grievances voiced by the petitioners.     
The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts the all India pre-medical entrance test.

At the outset, lawyer Kanu Agarwal, appearing for the Centre and the NTA, said the committee set up to look into the grievances decided on June 12 to “allay the fears of the students”. It was of the view that the grace marks be withdrawn and replaced with an option of re-test for these candidates which will be conducted on June 23. A notification to this effect will be issued during the day.

He said the committee was of the view that the award of grace marks on grounds of loss of time while taking the test resulted in a “skewed situation” as it had to be limited only to the questions that remained un-attempted.

After examining all aspects, the panel concluded that it would be appropriate to recommend cancellation of scorecards of these beneficiary candidates.

“According to the recommendations, it has been suggested that the score-cards of the affected 1563 candidates issued on June 4, 2024 will stand cancelled and withdrawn. These affected 1563 candidates will be informed of their actual scores without compensatory marks. Further, re-examination will be conducted for the affected 1563 candidates.

“The results of the affected candidates who do not wish to appear for the re-examination will be declared on their actual marks without compensation obtained by them in the examination held on May 5, 2024 and the marks obtained by the candidates who will appear in the retest will be considered and their marks based on the examination held on May 5, 2024 will be discarded,” the bench noted in the order.

The results of the re-test will be declared on June 30 and the counselling for admissions to MBBS, BDS, and other courses will start on July 6, the Centre said.

Lawyer J Sai Deepak, appearing for Alakh Pandey, the chief executive of EdTech firm ‘Physics Wallah’, assailed the random award of grace marks and said the option of re-test be given to all those students who could not approach the court alleging loss of time.

The bench declined the plea saying that it cannot expand the scope of the case to those who had not approached the court.

The bench issued notices to the Centre and the NTA on three petitions and tagged them with the pending pleas. It said they all will be taken up together on July 8 after the summer vacation.

Pandey has assailed the alleged random award of grace marks to over 1,500 candidates and urged the top court to set up an expert panel under its supervision to “enquire into the examination process and results of NEET (UG) 2024.”

He has, in his plea filed through lawyer Rohit Jain, the managing partner of law firm ‘Singhania & Co’, also sought a direction to the expert panel he has mooted “to come up with improvement in the process of conducting NEET examination and without hampering the interest of the other students”.

Another petition filed by Abdullah Mohammed Faiz and Dr. Shaik Roshan Mohiddin sought recall of the NEET-UG 2024 results and conduct of a fresh exam over allegations of paper leak and other malpractices.

The third plea, filed by NEET-UG aspirant Jaripiti Kartheek challenged the award of grace marks as compensation for alleged loss of time during the exam.

The examination was held on May 5 across 4,750 centres and around 24 lakh candidates took it. The results were expected to be declared on June 14 but were announced on June 4, apparently because the evaluation of the answer sheets got completed earlier.

The allegations have led to protests in several cities and filing of cases in seven high courts as also the Supreme Court. Scores of students protested in Delhi on June 10 seeking a probe into alleged irregularities.

As many as 67 students scored a perfect 720, unprecedented in the NTA’s history, with six from a centre in Haryana’s Faridabad figuring in the list, raising suspicions about irregularities. It has been alleged that grace marks contributed to 67 students sharing the top rank.

The NEET-UG examination is conducted by the NTA for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country.

Lack of jobs in Bengal compels great number of young people to move out of state to look for work

Poll day: Voices of anguish from the youth

Debraj Mitra, Subhankar Chowdhury, Jhinuk Mazumdar, Snehal Sengupta, TT, Calcutta, 02.06.24 : 

Anushka in Bijoygarh, Ipshita in Regent Estate, Indrasish in Bhowanipore and Vatsala in Bangur.

They don’t know one another but share a predicament that binds a great number of young people in Calcutta — the compulsion to move out of the city because there aren’t enough jobs here.
The cry for jobs rang out loud among young voters across Calcutta on poll day.

Many of them who got their fingers inked on Saturday had come from Chennai, Bangalore and other places that have offered them what their hometown could not — a job commensurate with their qualification.

They voted because they wanted to send the message that creating jobs should top the “to-do” list of whoever comes to power.

“I am always worried about my family. But I am hundreds of miles away. I was forced to move out because I did not get enough opportunities here,” said Anushka Guha, 22, an engineer working in Chennai with a multinational information technology services company.

Anushka’s mother and grandmother live in Bijoygarh. The latter suffered deep cuts on her head when she fell at her home a couple of months ago.

“I felt so helpless. I am not alone. There are so many like me who have been forced to leave Bengal for want of jobs,” Anushka said outside a polling booth inside a school in Bijoygarh, part of the Jadavpur Lok Sabha constituency.

Vatsala Poddar, 25, voted at Bangur Town Hall, which is part of the Barasat constituency. She shifted to the Karnataka capital six months ago to work in the marketing team of an e-commerce company. Before that, she spent two years working for a different company in Calcutta. Vatsala said there were “limited growth opportunities” here.

“There is a big difference in pay in Calcutta and other big cities. The cost of living is going up. But a well-paying job can offset inflation,” said Vatsala.

Sourish De, 21, is pursuing an MBA course from a private university in New Town. The course fee is around ₹8 lakh. “It is a lot of money. My father arranged for it. I have to land a well-paying job so I can live up to his expectations. But going by the job scene in Bengal and the feedback from seniors, the prospects in Calcutta seem bleak,” he said.

Most of the people this newspaper spoke to said they were surprised to see how the mainstream poll campaign did not give due importance to the need to create more jobs.

The election campaign has witnessed toxic polarisation. The BJP’s campaign pitch has kept swinging — from a Viksit Bharat by 2047 to fear-mongering about the Congress manifesto and the alleged appeasement of Muslims. Trinamool, on the other hand, has flaunted welfare schemes like Lakshmir Bhandar.

“From what I have seen, most leaders have not talked about jobs as much as they should have,” said Tiyasha Goswami, 22, a voter in Chinar Park, part of the Barasat constituency.

Tiyasha, who is pursuing a postgraduate multimedia course from St Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Calcutta, said she was “very scared” of the employment prospects, “not only in Bengal but across the country”.

“Not everyone can manage to go abroad,” Tiyasha said outside a polling station.

The Indian economy, despite its GDP numbers, has failed to generate enough jobs for the country’s large and expanding young population.

Ipshita Moitra, a techie with a pharma company in Bengaluru, voted at a school in Regent Estate. “I am aware of the freebies and doles that the Mamata Banerjee government is known for. I don’t have a problem with them. But the focus should be on the creation of jobs,” said Moitra.

Indrasish Majumdar, 29, who lives near Jadubabur Bazar in Bhowanipore (Kolkata South), works with a tech services company in Pune. His father suffers from acute renal problems and needs dialysis regularly.

“It is a pity that I cannot stay with my parents. They have spent a lot on my education. Now, I have to take care of them financially as well. Staying in Calcutta, I cannot earn as much as in other Metro cities,” he said after casting his vote on Saturday.

Koustav Ghosh, 24, who voted in New Town (Barasat), was worried about the rising cost of education. Koustav is pursuing an MBA course.

“The cost of these courses are rising across the country. But the job prospects are
becoming grimmer. The future is uncertain for us,” he said.

Writers workshop on creative writing held in Kalimpong

Kalimnews, Kalimpong, 23 May 2024: People have lost interest in reading and writing, so to rekindle the love for the both and generate interest in reading and writing and sharpening their writing skills, a one-day creative writing workshop was organized at the Worship Center in Kalimpong.

Organized jointly by Kalimpong Christian Library and Himali Upasana Isai Kala Sarakshan Samity (Upasana Production), the workshop was held today in which training was imparted on creative writing and translation along with writing essays, articles, poetries and short stories.

70 young and old people participated in this workshop and according to the members of the workshop organizing committee, such a large number of participants was very much encouraging for smaller organisations.

In the workshop, the resource persons trained the participants by explaining about the important and essential points which initiates the art of writing, develops it and even could make it possible to pursue it as a profession. Rev. Solon Karthak, the well-known travelogue author and writer gave detailed information from his experiences during his delivery of keynote address on reading and creative writing.

In response to the growing disinterest in reading and writing, a one-day creative writing workshop was organized at the Worship Center in Kalimpong. The workshop aimed to rekindle a passion for reading and writing and to enhance participants’ writing skills. It was a joint effort by the Kalimpong Christian Library and Himali Upasana Isai Kala Sarakshan Samity (Upasana Production).

The workshop included training sessions on creative writing, translation, and composing essays, articles, poetry, and short stories. A total of 70 participants, both young and old, attended, which was a highly encouraging turnout for the organizing committee, indicating a strong community interest in such initiatives.

Resource persons provided essential guidance on initiating and developing writing skills, with a focus on the potential for writing as a professional pursuit. Rev. Solon Karthak, a well-known travelogue author and writer, delivered the keynote address. He shared his extensive experiences, offering detailed insights into the art of reading and creative writing, which inspired and informed the participants.

This workshop highlights the community’s effort to promote literacy and creative expression, ensuring that the love for reading and writing continues to thrive across generations.

In an effort to reignite interest in reading and writing, a one-day creative writing workshop was held at the Worship Center in Kalimpong. Organized by the Kalimpong Christian Library and Himali Upasana Isai Kala Sarakshan Samity (Upasana Production), the event focused on various forms of writing, including articles, essays, short stories, poetry, and translation.

Prominent figures in the literary field shared their expertise: Dr. Anjana Rai spoke on writing articles and essays, Elder Raju Rai, an editor and writer, provided insights into writing short stories, Ujjwal Prakash Bomjan, a poet and lyricist, explained the art of writing poetry. Dr. Abrona Lee Pandi from the English Department of Sikkim University discussed creative writing and translation skills.


To apply the skills learned, participants engaged in a writing competition in English and Nepali across four genres: essay, short story, poetry, and translation. Winners received book prizes, and all participants were awarded certificates. The winners included: Essay Writing: Edwin Rezom Aden (English) and Sunita Lama (Nepali)
Short Story Writing: Sharon Shreya Rai (English) and Tabita Sarki (Nepali), Poetry: Legain Phipon (English) and Grace Pakhrin Pulami (Nepali), Translation: Ananya Bomjan (English) and Nurzong Lepcha (Nepali).


The workshop was conducted by Asst. Professor Anukampa Subba, Head of the English Department at Kalimpong College, and began with a welcome address by Rev. J.S. Caleb Subba and a prayer by President Rev. Ruel Pakhrin. The event concluded with the announcement of winners by Jeenat Mary Lepcha and a thanksgiving by Rev. Lochan Kabo.

During the workshop, KCL secretary Yangden S. Ghising discussed the Kalimpong Christian Library, and film director Gyan Gurung shared information about an upcoming film by Himali Upasana Isai Kala Sankarsan Samiti (Upasana Production). Participants found the workshop effective and encouraging, contributing significantly to their writing skills and creative development..

SC stays Calcutta HC order annulling appointment of 25,753 teachers, others in West Bengal

The bench said the state government has nothing to show that relevant data was maintained by the authorities and asked about its availability
PTI, New Delhi, 07.05.24 : In a major relief to 25,753 teachers and non-teaching staff of West Bengal, the Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the order of the Calcutta High Court order invalidating their appointment made by the state’s School Service Commission (SSC) in the state-run and state-aided schools.

The top court, however, permitted the central probe agency, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), to continue with its investigation and said it may probe even the members of the state cabinet if needed.

While granting the relief on the pleas, including the one filed by the state government, a bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra asked the CBI not to take any precipitative action like any arrest of any suspect during its ongoing investigation.

The top court, however, made it clear that the teachers and non-teaching staff of the state, whose appointments were cancelled by the high court, will have to refund the salaries and other emoluments if it reaches the conclusion that their recruitment was illegal.

“We are of the view that an expeditious disposal of the matter will be in the interest of justice. We accordingly direct that the proceedings be listed for hearing and final disposal on July 16, 2024.

“In the meantime, we are inclined to continue the ad-interim protection granted by this Court in the order dated November 9, 2023, subject to the express stipulation that any person found to have been appointed illegally and has continued as a consequence of the present order shall undertake to refund the entire amount of the salary which may be paid from the date of this order and the final judgement of this court,” the bench said in its order.

It said the issue which would merit closer analysis is whether the appointment which suffers from tainted can be segregated (with the genuine ones). If such is possible then it would be wrong to set aside the entirety of the process, the bench said.

The court should also be mindful that a large number of teachers for class 9-10th would be effected. Assuming that such a segregation is possible, this court has to set out the modalities to determine the segregation, the bench said in the order.

Earlier in the day, it termed the alleged recruitment scam in West Bengal as “systemic fraud” and said the state authorities were duty-bound to maintain the digitised records pertaining to the appointment of 25,753 teachers and non-teaching staff.

“Public job is so scarce… Nothing remains if the faith of the public goes. This is systemic fraud. Public jobs are extremely scarce today and are looked at for social mobility.

“What remains in the system if their appointments are also maligned? People will lose faith, how do you countenance this?” the CJI asked the lawyers representing the state government.

The bench said the state government has nothing to show that the data was maintained by its authorities and asked about its availability.

“Either you have the data or you do not have it… You were duty-bound to maintain the documents in digitised form. Now, it is obvious that there is no data.

“You are unaware of the fact that your service provider has engaged another agency. You had to maintain supervisory control,” the bench told the state government’s lawyers.

The top court said expeditious hearing was needed in the matter and listed the pleas for hearing on July 16.

It took note of the submissions of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that the order staying the high court judgment may hamper the ongoing CBI probe and clarified that the investigation by the central agency will continue without any coercive action against the government officials and others.

Senior advocates Rakesh Dwivedi and N K Kaul, representing the state government authorities, argued against the cancellation of the appointments by the high court.

During the hearing, senior advocate Dushyant Dave made comments against former Calcutta High Court judge Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay and sought a stay of the high court order.

“Mr Dave, we are not on conduct of Mr Gangopadhyay. We have been here and listening the nitty-gritty of the case since morning. Please show some decorum,” the bench said.

The CJI, once during the hearing, got irked and said he will issue notice and keep the case for hearing in July if the orderly hearing is allowed to take place.

“We are not here to scrutinise the conduct of Justice Gangopadhyay,” the CJI said, adding that the lawyers should be concerned with the legality of the case and levelling allegations against the high court judge will not lead anywhere.

The bench, in its order, said, “We are of view that submission of petitioners (state government and others) merits further consideration.” The top court was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the Calcutta High Court’s April 22 decision that invalidated the appointment of 25,753 teachers and non-teaching staff in state-run and state-aided schools of West Bengal.

Besides cancelling the appointments, the Calcutta High Court had also directed the CBI to probe into the appointment process and submit a report in three months.

Over 23 lakh candidates had appeared for the State Level Selection Test (SLST)-2016 for 24,640 vacant posts. A total of 25,753 appointment letters were issued against 24,640 vacancies, Firdaus Shamim, a lawyer for some of the petitioners who had alleged irregularities in the selection process, had said.

The court also instructed those appointed outside the officially available 24,640 vacancies, appointed after the expiry of the official date of recruitment, and those who submitted blank Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) sheets but obtained appointments to return all remunerations and benefits received by them with 12 per cent per annum interest, within four weeks. 

Cancellation of 25,753 appointments: SC to hear case on Tuesday

MP, 6 May 2024, Kolkata: Case against the Calcutta High Court’s verdict cancelling appointments of 25,753 teaching and non-teaching staff will be heard by the Supreme Court on May 7. 

The matter was listed to be heard on Monday. According to a news agency, the Chief Justice of India (CJI) asked the counsels to prepare a sequence of arrangements amongst themselves to make orderly submissions before the bench. 
Hence, the matter will be taken up for hearing on May 7. In the earlier hearing which took place on April 29, the Supreme Court stayed CBI probe with regard to the state government officials involved in approving supernumerary posts to accommodate illegal appointments and to take such persons into custodial interrogation if necessary. 
However, the Apex Court turned down the prayer for stay of High Court’s direction to cancel the appointments of 25,753 candidates, which includes both teaching and non-teaching staff who were appointed in 2016. 
The petition filed by the state government, West Bengal Central School Service Commission and affected employees will be heard by a Bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra. Ever since the judgement by the special bench of Justice Debangsu Basak and Justice Md. Shabbar Rashidi, the candidates who lost their jobs and claim to have been appointed in a ‘fair’ manner have been protesting against the judgement. 
They had staged a protest outside the West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) office recently. The Commission chairman Siddharth Majumder met with 10 representatives from the protesters and explained the legal constraints pertaining to the matter. 
While expressing his sympathy towards legitimate candidates who allegedly lost their jobs in the case, he assured them that the commission will do everything possible within the legal framework to assist them. 
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/cancellation-of-25753-appointments-sc-to-hear-case-on-tuesday-562766

Gorubathan Future Vision and Gorubathan Government Degree College jointly felicitates the three UPSC successful candidates

 KalimNews, Kalimpong, 5 May 2024: 


* On 7th May, at Gorubathan Government Degree College a seminar is organised at 10 am.

* The three UPSC passed out candidates will present motivational speech to those who are preparing for the UPSC examinations and also other aspiring candidates and also guide regarding coaching and preparation for the examinations.

* About 13 lakh candidates appeared in the UPSC examination 2023.

Result of the UPSC Examination 2023 proves that a new batch of honest, dedicated brave Gorkhas who protect the country’s borders are now preparing for the higher administrative services of the country.

By passing the UPSC civil service examination, three Gorkhas of the 2023 batch from the beautiful, gentle, peaceful Himalayan district of Darjeeling have held the head of the Gorkha community higher than the Mount Everest.

Gorubathan Future Vision and Gorubathan Government College will jointly honour those warriors with pen on May 7 during the programme. It is confirmed that Jayasree Pradhan and Ajay Moktan will attend the program, while due to an examination Goutam Thakuri will not be able to attend it. 

Puran Rai, the chairman of Future Vision, said that in order to celebrate this historic achievement of our Gorkha heroes by congratulating them and to share their experiences to the local educated youth, a motivational program is organized for the graduate students of Gorubthan and adjoining areas.

“The youth icons Jayasree, Gautam and Ajay are and have now become celebrities”, Rai said. With their significant achievement, the administrative and educational strength of the people of Darjeeling Hills has been marked in the map of the country. He further said that this achievement should be taken as a turning point by the Gorkhas. Dissemination of information, proper guidelines and coaching will come forth with more similar result in the future days too.

Darjeeling’s Jayasree Pradhan (52 Rank), Gautam Thakuri (391 Rank) and Ajay Moktan (494 Rank) were amongst the 14,624 successful students who cleared the UPSC Examination 2023, out of the 13 lakh candidates who appeared in the said examination.

UPSC conducts this exam every year to select candidates for the higher administrative posts of the ranks of IPS, IAS, IFS, IRS, and others. The UPSC CSE exam is held in three phases – prelims, mains and interview.  Generally around 10 lakh students attempt this examination every year, however, only 0.2% use to pass the examination. This shows how difficult this exam is.

The Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2023 was conducted on May 28, 2023. A total of 10,16,850 candidates applied for this examination, out of which 5,92,141 candidates appeared in the examination Out of these, a total of 14,624 candidates qualified for appearance in the Main exam which was held in September 2023. 

Out of the total 10,16,850 candidates applying for the UPSC Civil Services examination, as many as 5,92,141 candidates actually appeared. Of them, 14,624 candidates qualified for the UPSC CSE Main (written) examination and a total of 2,855 candidates qualified for the interview and personality test of the examination in which three Gorkha candidates of the Darjeeling district were the qualifiers.. 

The result of the UPSC Preliminary Examination was declared on 12th June 2023. These successful candidates filled up the DAF form for UPSC Mains 2023 from September 15 to 24, 2023. Candidates who cleared the mains were called for the interview round which was conducted between January 4 and April 9. UPSC has kept the candidature of 355 recommended candidates in provisional. Of the 1,016 recommended candidates, as many as 347 are from the general category, 115 are from the EWS category, 303 candidates are from the OBC category and from SC and ST, the number of recommended candidates are 165 and 86 respectively.

SSC pledges to differentiate between deserving and undeserving candidates amidst termination controversy

We had submitted a list of the undeserving candidates to the division bench of Calcutta High Court: SSC

Subhankar Chowdhury, TT, Calcutta, 04.05.24 : 
School Service Commission, Salt Lake office.: File
The school service commission (SSC) chief on Friday said they would tell the Supreme Court that it was possible to make a distinction between the deserving and the undeserving candidates among the 25,000-odd teachers and other employees at government-aided schools whose services were terminated by Calcutta High Court.

“The commission will definitely stand by those who got their jobs through fair means. We will try to assure the Supreme Court, where a case is being heard, that it is possible to make a distinction between those who are deserving and those who are not from this list (of the 25,700 candidates),” SSC chairperson Siddhartha Majumdar told a news conference.

The briefing was convened hours after a section of the 25,700-odd teaching and non-teaching employees who stand to lose their jobs following a Calcutta High Court order on April 22 held a protest outside the SSC office in Salt Lake.

“We had submitted a list of the undeserving candidates to the division bench of Calcutta High Court. Similarly, we can hand over the list of the disputed candidates to the Supreme Court. The commission will definitely stand by those who are not guilty or those who cannot be identified as tainted. This is the stand of the commission,” Majumdar said

On April 25, Majumdar had said at a news conference that the commission had informed the high court through three affidavits that 5,300 teaching and non-teaching employees had got their jobs allegedly through unfair means.

The SSC chairman had made the comment while countering the court’s
statement that the commission did not cooperate in tracing the candidates who had got their jobs allegedly through unfair means.

On April 29, the Bengal government, SSC and the state secondary education board had submitted before the Supreme Court that the high court’s April 22 order scrapping the jobs of all 25,700 candidates who had been appointed based on their performance in the 2016 selection tests, because of possible irregularities in some appointments, violated the principles of natural justice.

Chief Justice Chandrachud then observed: “You have to demonstrate that… on the basis of material available, it is possible to segregate who all are validly and invalidly appointed; who are the beneficiaries of the frauds.”

The apex court will again hear the case on May 6.

The SSC chairperson on Friday said it was in this context that he said that they would try to assure the Supreme Court that it was possible to make a distinction between the deserving and the undeserving candidates.

“A section of those who stand to lose jobs following the Calcutta High Court order was staging a protest outside the SSC office. I told the media persons who came to the office that it was possible to make a distinction between those who are deserving and those who are not,” Majumdar told Metro later.

When this newspaper sought to know how the commission would make a distinction, an official said: “We could give the apex court a list of the candidates against whom there are no allegations so far.”

The counsel for the Bengal government had submitted in the Supreme Court on Monday that the high court judgment violated the Supreme Court ruling in the Inderpreet Singh Kahlon and Others vs State of Punjab in 2006, which said the entire selection process cannot be cancelled because of irregularities in some appointments.

Bengal: Jobless teachers stage protest, SSC Chiefsays commission try to help deserving ones

Police personnel from the RAF and Bidhannagar police commissionerate intervened, halting the demonstrators near the commission’s head office at Karunamoyee
PTI, Calcutta, 03.05.24,: Around 1,000 young teachers, who were rendered jobless following a recent ruling by the Calcutta High Court, staged a demonstration outside the West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) office here on Friday to express their grievances. 
The teachers said they were part of the 26,000 candidates who appeared for the SSC 2016 test, a recruitment process deemed null and void by the high court in its recent verdict. 
Police personnel from the RAF and Bidhannagar police commissionerate intervened, halting the demonstrators near the commission’s head office at Karunamoyee. 
Approximately, 100 protesters were briefly detained for obstructing the road, a police official said.

SSC chairman Siddhartha Majumder told PTI that he met about 10 representatives from the protesters, explaining the legal constraints faced by the commission. 

He expressed sympathy towards deserving candidates and assured them that the commission would do whatever possible within the legal framework to assist them. 
“I have told them we are sympathetic to the deserving candidates. 
The commission will certainly do whatever is possible, as per the legal framework, to help them,” he said. 
However, he highlighted that the commission’s actions were restricted as the matter was now sub-judice. 
Responding to queries regarding demands for the release of answer sheets in the public domain, Majumder clarified that the commission couldn’t even disclose candidates’ results, as the entire issue was sub-judice. 
The SSC had earlier said while results of around 20,000 candidates were not suspicious, there are anomalies in the results of over 5000 and it had been brought to the notice of the court in past submissions.

About 850 workers left without jobs as Totapara Tea Garden suspends operations

Assistant Labour Commissioner Subhrajyoti Sarkar, stationed at the Jalpaiguri District Labor Office, disclosed that the Totapara plantation management has been summoned for a meeting scheduled for Monday to address the unfolding crisis. 

Dibyendu Sinha, MP, 2 May 2024, Jalpaiguri: The management of the Totapara Tea Garden in Jalpaiguri abruptly suspended operations, leaving about 850 tea garden workers unemployed. Workers claim this action was illegal, while the owners blame a section of the workers. 
Assistant Labour Commissioner Subhrajyoti Sarkar, stationed at the Jalpaiguri District Labor Office, disclosed that the Totapara plantation management has been summoned for a meeting scheduled for Monday to address the unfolding crisis. 
Aside from the contentious issue of work suspension, workers at Totapara tea plantation are grappling with outstanding dues, including Provident Fund (PF), gratuity and unpaid wages. 
Seeking redress, a cohort of workers converged at Banarhat Police Station on April 27, staging a sit-in protest to expedite the resolution of their dues. Despite efforts, a scheduled tripartite meeting convened at the Banarhat Block Development Officer (BDO) office found none of the management representatives in attendance. 
However, the administration received a letter from the owners assuring settlement of one installment of the outstanding wages on Tuesday. Expressing his dismay, Ramesh Mahali, a plantation worker, lamented: “The garden owner pledged to settle the dues by Tuesday, only to abscond and post the notice of suspension overnight, leaving us unaware until Wednesday, a holiday.” 
Punita Mahali, another worker, echoed the sentiment, stating: “From basic amenities like access to drinking water to essential medical treatment, the garden fails us. 
Adding insult to injury, our PF and gratuity remain unpaid. We hold onto hope that the garden will reopen following administrative intervention, once these issues are addressed.” 
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/about-850-workers-left-without-jobs-as-totapara-tea-garden-suspends-operations-562267

राजकीय हाई स्कूल दलपतपुर के विद्यार्थियों ने किया राजश्री ग्रुप ऑफ इंस्टीट्यूशंस बरेली में भ्रमण


देवरनियाँ । ब्लाक भोजीपुरा समग्रता शिक्षा के अंतर्गत राजकीय हाई स्कूल दलपतपुर के कक्षा 9 व कक्षा 10 के छात्र एव छात्राओं को राजश्री ग्रुप ऑफ इंस्टीट्यूशन बरेली में अध्ययन भ्रमण कराया गया।

अध्ययन यात्रा के दौरान छात्र एवं छात्राओं को संस्थान में संचालित विभिन्न पाठ्यक्रमो जैसे इलेक्ट्रिक, इंजीनियरिंग, सिविल इंजीनियरिंग, मैकेनिकल इंजीनियरिंग, इलेक्ट्रॉनिक्स इंजीनियरिगं, पाँली टेक्नोलॉजी, आई टी आई, बीएएमएस , एमबीबीएस आर्युवेदिक उपचार विभिन्न मशीनस जैसे लेथ मशीन , शेपर मशीन , मिलिंग मशीन , बैच ग्राइंडर , ड्रिलिंग मशीन आदि जानकारी संस्थान में कार्यक्रत फैकल्टी द्वारा प्रदान की गई ।

इस अध्ययन भ्रमण से छात्र एव छात्राए का ज्ञानर्वधन हुआ । और उन्हे भविष्य में अपनी रुचि के अनुसार अपना करियर चुनने में सहायता मिलेगी । इस समग्र शिक्षा अध्ययन यात्रा में विद्यालय प्रधानाध्यापिका अनीता सक्सेना , शिक्षिका , वन्दना, शिवानी शर्मा , नीलम देवी , पुष्पा देवी एंव दिव्या सक्सेना आदि मौजूद रहीं ।

विदाई पार्टी में जमकर झूमे छात्र व छात्राएं, चेहरे पर खुशी, आंखों में दिखा विदाई का दर्द


बहेड़ी। हसील बहेड़ी क्षेत्र के गन्ना उत्पादक महाविद्यालय में दिनांक 5 जनवरी 2024 शुक्रवार के दिन विदाई समारोह का आयोजन किया गया जिसमें बीएससी कृषि अष्टम सेमेटर के विद्यार्थियों की विदाई की गई इस अवसर पर अनेक छात्र व छात्राओं ने सांस्कृतिक कार्यक्रमों की प्रस्तुतियां दी इसके अतिरिक्त वरिष्ठ विद्यार्थियों के लिए विभिन्न प्रकार के मनोरंजन प्रस्तुतियां कराई गई।


महाविद्यालय के कृषि संकाय के समन्वयक डॉक्टर चंद्रशेखर कुमार ने विद्यार्थियों को विभिन्न उपाधियों से सम्मानित किया ।साथ ही उन्हें उपहार स्वरूप स्मृति चिन्ह प्रदान किए गए ।इस अवसर पर महाविद्यालय के प्राचार्य प्रोफेसर (डॉ) हरिकेश सिंह ने विद्यार्थियों को शुभकामनाएं देते हुए कहा कि निरंतर प्रयास, कठिन परिश्रम और अनुशासन से ही सफलता प्राप्त की जा सकती है । उन्होंने छात्र-छात्राओं को आने वाली परीक्षाओं में धैर्य लगन और मेहनत के साथ सर्वोत्तम प्रदर्शन करने के लिए प्रेरित किया।

वही एग्रोनॉमी विभाग के डॉक्टर राकेश कुमार शर्मा ने कहा कि मुझे बहुत खुशी है कि हमारे छात्र व छात्राओं ने बीएससी कृषि को उत्तीर्ण किया है खुशी के साथ-साथ यह घड़ी दुख की भी है। आज हमसे हमारे प्यारे बच्चे जुदा हो रहे हैं।

वही विदाई समारोह में बच्चों एवं पूर्व छात्र-छात्राओं की आंखें नम हो गई। बच्चों की आंखें नम होते देख सभी भावुक हो उठे। वही इकबाल अंसारी दिव्यांशु मिश्रा आदित्य सिंह संचित पटेल अनुज गंगवार तान्या शर्मा समरीन आदिल बेग प्रियांशी गंगवार आदि ने कहा कि विभाग अध्यक्ष डॉक्टर चंद्रशेखर सर जी व डॉक्टर राकेश सर जी जैसे अध्यापक बहुत कम देखने को मिलते हैं।

एग्रीकल्चर विभाग के सभी अध्यापक बहुत ही उच्च व्यवहार के धनी व्यक्ति हैं जो अपने कार्य का निष्ठा पूर्वक पालन करते हैं आवश्यकता पड़ने पर वह रविवार के दिन भी महाविद्यालय में आकर काम करते हैं ।बच्चों के उज्जवल भविष्य के लिए दिन रात उनके लिए साथ खड़े रहते हैं। इस अवसर पर महाविद्यालय प्राचार्य प्रोफेसर डॉ हरिकेश सिंह, कृषि विभाग अध्यक्ष डॉक्टर चंद्रशेखर कुमार, डॉ राकेश शर्मा, मुनीष वर्मा, राजवीर शर्मा, डॉक्टर प्रशंसा सिंह सहित कॉलेज के अन्य कर्मचारी व अध्यापक मौजूद रहे।

प्राथमिक विद्यालयो के शिक्षकों की काउंसलिंग 6 जनवरी को होगी

बरेली। बेसिक शिक्षा परिषद के द्वारा संचालित प्राथमिक विद्यालयों के शिक्षकों के लिए बीएसए बरेली ने गुरुवार को पदोन्नति की काउंसलिंग का कार्यक्रम जारी कर दिया है इस आदेश के तहत वरीयता क्रम की सूची में अंकित शिक्षक अपनी काउंसलिंग शनिवार 6 जनवरी को राजकीय इंटर कॉलेज बरेली में अपराह्न 12 बजे से करायेंगे।

बीएसए बरेली ने अपने आदेश में स्पष्ट निर्देश दिए हैं कि यदि कोई शिक्षक, जिसका नाम सूची में दर्ज है और वह समय से काउंसलिंग कराने के लिए बताए हुए स्थान पर नहीं पहुंच पाता और काउंसलिंग में भाग नहीं ले पाता, तो उसकी जिम्मेदारी उस शिक्षक की स्वयं की होगी।

काउंसलिंग के तीन चरण बनाए गए हैं, जिसमें पहले चरण में ग्रामीण क्षेत्र के 258 शिक्षक अपनी काउंसलिंग कराएंगे, वही दूसरे चरण में बरेली नगर क्षेत्र के 64 और तीसरे व अंतिम चरण में फरीदपुर नगर क्षेत्र के 4 शिक्षक काउंसलिंग में शामिल होंगे।

आपको बता दें कि प्राथमिक विद्यालय के शिक्षक काफी समय से पदोन्नति की मांग कर रहे थे, कई बार सूची तैयार भी हुई लेकिन काउंसलिंग नहीं हो सकी थी, अब बेसिक शिक्षा परिषद के द्वारा जब पदोन्नति की काउंसलिंग की तैयारी पूर्ण कर ली गई है, जो शनिवार 6 जनवरी को कराई जाएगी।

इस मामले पर बीएसए बरेली संजय सिंह द्वारा बताया गया कि शासन के आदेश पर काउंसलिंग कराई जा रही है विद्यालय आवंटन की प्रक्रिया भी शासन के आदेश पर कराई जाएगी।