The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) has contested a Calcutta High Court ruling that revoked the positions of 313 teachers in GTA-operated schools across Darjeeling, Kurseong, and Kalimpong in West Bengal. The case will be heard by a division bench at the Jalpaiguri Circuit Bench, presided by Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty and Justice Biswaroop Chowdhury.
The initial hearing date for the case is yet to be determined. Earlier, a single-bench order by Justice Biswajit Basu on December 17 annulled the 313 teaching roles, citing their unlawful recruitment. Additionally, the judge instructed the West Bengal Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to proceed with its inquiry.
Justice Basu also mandated an immediate halt to the teachers’ salaries, questioning the justification of using state funds to pay unlawfully appointed educators. Doubts were also raised regarding the educational qualifications of the affected teachers. Following the court’s decision, the “Sanyukta Madhyamik Shikshak Sangathan” initiated a strike at GTA schools, disrupting academic activities in the region.
Initially, the GTA sought the State Education Department’s involvement in the legal challenge, but the department declined participation. The Education Department argued that GTA, as an autonomous entity, operated under distinct recruitment regulations, creating legal complexities for the state’s involvement. Consequently, GTA has opted to independently contest the High Court’s ruling.
