Bringing an end to the stay on promotions and other benefits of about 2,500 teachers across various colleges and universities in the State, the Calcutta High Court here on Wednesday quashed the State government’s decision to defer the date of their promotions.
About 74 members of the West Bengal College and University Teachers’ Association had moved the High Court on the issue. The case was heard by Justice Ashoke Kumar Dasadhikari.
“Promotions and benefits had been arbitrarily kept on hold for 28 months, snatching away precious time of so many teachers’ careers. We had brought the issue up with the former Education Minister [Bratya Basu] and the Governor [M.K. Narayanan]. When none of the meetings bore any fruit, we were forced us to move the High Court,” general secretary of the WBCUTA Srutinath Praharaj said.
The High Court’s judgement will enable the benefit of career advancement scheme and re-designation, and other benefits, such as Ph.D, M.Phil, to be resumed. The teachers’ promotion, too, will be granted as and when it will be due.
“This arbitrary stay on promotions had a cumulative effect on teachers, who were due for promotions and other benefits from 30 July, 2010 to 30 October, 2012. Many teachers were due for more than one promotion between this time period. This problem would have extended until the time they would retire. The State government’s decision wasn’t only unjust; it was also disrespectful towards the teachers. We hope that the arrears are cleared soon and a notification regarding the same is brought out soon,” Mr. Praharaj said.
“Promotions due before and after that 28 months gap were functional.
However, teachers were denied any benefit for that time period which was creating discrimination among them. The main aim of our legal battle was to end that discrimination,” he said.
The association had apprised the incumbent Education Minister, Partha Chatterjee, of the association’s legal battle in a letter when he assumed office.
