Deprived teachers move Calcutta HC against CM’s relief for Group C and D staff

Speaking to The Indian Express, counsel Sudipto Dasgupta, who mentioned the matter, said, “(The ex gratia payment) is unconstitutional and violates the right to equality and the right to life. It goes against the Supreme Court order.”

The state government had announced the ex gratia decision following a cabinet meeting. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had stated from Nabanna, “Under a scheme of the West Bengal Labour Department, Group C will receive Rs 25,000 and Group D will receive Rs 20,000, effective from April 1, 2025.”

“The families who have lost their jobs are in great difficulty. The matter is currently sub-judice. We will file a review petition before the Supreme Court on its previous verdict and await its order, with which we will surely abide. But until that verdict is received, they will get this allowance,” Banerjee told reporters.

She added that a special fund, the West Bengal Livelihood and Social Security Fund, had been created. A few weeks ago, Chief Secretary Manoj Pant held a meeting with representatives of Group C and D employees, during which the Chief Minister also addressed them virtually and assured them of the allowance.

On April 3, a Supreme Court division bench comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar dismissed 25,753 teaching and non-teaching staff employed in state-run and state-aided schools, upholding a Calcutta High Court order.

Two weeks later, the Supreme Court allowed teachers of Classes IX to XII to return to their posts and instructed the state government to restart the recruitment process, to be completed by December 31. However, no such relief was extended to the Group C and D staff.