Latest news with #BratyaBasu
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Bengal college admissions in limbo: 2024 HC order on OBC certificates causes delay
The fate of 4,82,948 students who appeared for the Higher Secondary (Uccha Madhyamik) exams in Bengal remains uncertain, as undergraduate admissions through the Centralised Admission Portal (CAP) to around 460 government colleges and universities across the state have been stalled. This is because in May 2024, the Calcutta High Court had dismissed all Other Backward Classes (OBC) certificates issued since 2010. The court directed that a new OBC list be prepared under the West Bengal Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993. According to sources in the Education Department, officials have written to the state's Advocate General regarding the commencement of admissions. Education Minister Bratya Basu recently told mediapersons, 'It is an ongoing legal matter; the higher authority is looking into it. We are waiting for the final nod to start admissions. The centralised admission portal was launched last year, and this year too, admissions will be conducted on it smoothly. Legal issues will not impact the overall admission process.' According to Basu, UG admissions through CAP will begin soon. In contrast, private and autonomous colleges not under the centralised portal, such as Scottish Church College, St. Xavier's College, and Ramakrishna Mission institutes, have already begun their admission processes. The Principal of Scottish Church College said, 'We are a minority institution and not under CAP. Our admissions began after Class 12 results were declared and will continue till June.'A senior official said that the CAP portal is ready and will be activated once the Higher Education Department gives its clearance. Officials also hinted at possibly eliminating the OBC category from UG admissions to avoid further legal complications, pending the Advocate General's advice. Asutosh College principal and general secretary of the All Bengal Principals Council Manas Kabi told The Indian Express, 'We have full faith in the government and hope the process will start soon. The Education Minister is trying his best to open the online portal following all legal advice. Since the case is in the Supreme Court, legal counsel is essential.' Calcutta University Registrar Debasish Das said, 'We have sought a legal opinion. Currently, no admissions are taking place. We wrote to the Backward Classes Department but have not received a response. If the process doesn't begin soon, students may turn to private institutions or seek admissions in other states.' Jadavpur University's Acting Registrar Indrajit Banerjee said, 'We have received a letter from the Backward Classes Department and are proceeding as per legal advice.' Rupayan Pal, who topped this year's Higher Secondary examinations, told The Indian Express, 'Just for one section, everyone shouldn't be affected. I want to pursue research and study medicine. The results aren't out yet, but I hope the issue will be resolved by then.' Meanwhile, students and guardians are growing increasingly anxious. Rabindranath Pal, Rupayan's father, told The Indian Express, 'Students will obviously be affected, but what can we common people do except wait for the court's decision? This delay is unfair; it will impact my son's future. Only the Supreme Court can resolve it.' Bhagtodan Ghoshal, father of Srijita Ghoshal who secured the fourth rank, said, 'This is a sad situation and must be resolved quickly. Education is the foundation of society. Many students are leaving Bengal. If my daughter gets a seat in another state, I'll send her there.' The Supreme Court had, in its judgment last year, termed the post-2010 OBC list 'illegal' but clarified that its ruling would not affect those already employed or benefitted under existing OBC West Bengal government has challenged the verdict and moved the Supreme Court. The verdict followed PILs filed since 2011, challenging the classification of 77 communities as OBCs under executive orders issued between March 2010 and May 2012. The petitioners also questioned the constitutional validity of sections of the West Bengal Backward Classes (Other than SC and ST) (Reservation in Posts) Act of 2012.
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Mixed bag, say protesting teachers after edu dept meet
1 2 Kolkata: The SSC teachers' protest saw its first signs of resolution on Monday as the principal secretary of the education department, Binod Kumar, met six representatives of the state school teachers, who had lost their jobs following a Supreme Court order in April. This meeting took place following an assurance from the state higher education minister, Bratya Basu, on Sunday. The teachers also pointed out that they would not shift to the new location near Central Park as the weather condition was not good. At the end of the two-hour meeting, which started around 1.30 pm, the six-member team expressed their satisfaction with the draft of the review petition that they were offered to examine during the discussion. But senior state officials made it clear that they were not aware when it would be heard. The teachers' representatives told reporters their demands were partially fulfilled as they were satisfied with the review petition draft but were disappointed that they were denied a meeting with chief minister Mamata Banerjee and higher education minister Bratya Basu with whom they wanted to have a discussion for a way out. Brindaban Ghosh, one of the six-member team, said none of them was ready to sit for a fresh examination and that they had communicated their demand to the official. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo "We don't want any notification for a fresh exam. We want the review petition to be accepted by the Supreme Court. The officials said the state was fighting a legal battle for us, and we are waiting to see how they bring our jobs back," he said. Rakesh Alam, another teacher, said, "We did not get all our answers, so we sent a fresh mail to the education minister. We will not sit for an exam until the meeting is held with the education minister." Pointing out that they were victims of the situation, another teacher, Habibullah, said the direction of the movement was likely to change as by "taking it to Delhi". He claimed several of those who had lost their jobs had multiple family and health problems, which made it difficult for them to appear for a test again. "We had no connection with those involved with the corruption. We passed all the verifications to get this job but suddenly, we were told about the corruption. The panel was cancelled for a small number of candidates who took undue advantage," he said. "This verdict sets a vulnerable trend in the country, showing any job panel can be cancelled..."
Indian Express
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Bengal school teachers row: No breakthrough in talks, sacked teachers plan to take protest to Delhi
A two-hour-long meeting between representatives of protesting teachers, demanding reinstatement of their jobs, and Education Department officials on Monday failed to break the ongoing deadlock. Instead, the protesting teachers said they would take their protest to Delhi. With Education Minister Bratya Basu skipping the meeting, the six-member delegation of sacked teachers met Principal Secretary Vinod Kumar and Secretary Subhra Chakraborty at Bikash Bhavan at Salt Lake, outside which the teachers sacked by the Supreme Court have been protesting for the past three weeks. On Sunday, Education Minister Basu urged the protesting teachers to repose faith in the government and assured them that all legal steps were being explored to find a solution to the impasse. He had reiterated that 'untainted' teachers, who were sacked by the Supreme Court due to procedural lapses in the 2016 recruitment process, would continue to receive salaries and remain in service until the fresh recruitment process concludes by December 31. Vrindaban Ghosh, a member of Joggo Shikha Shikhika Adhikar Mancha, which is spearheading the protest, told mediapersons after the meeting that they discussed the government's review petition in the Supreme Court. 'They showed us the draft (of the review petition). It is strong. But they told us that whether it would be accepted or not depends on the Supreme Court. As per the Supreme Court order, the notification for re-examination has to be issued before May 31. We told them that we do not want to sit for exams again. We are not in the mental and physical condition to take the exams. They (the top officials) listened to us, but they said that no one was above the law, and they would have to follow the order of the Supreme Court,' Ghosh said. 'If a small percentage was involved in illegalities, why should every eligible candidate be victimised? With all humility, we again urge the state government to ensure that the tainted ones are singled out by checking every OMR sheet of about 26,000 candidates,' he added. Asked about the SC directive for the SSC to issue a fresh notification regarding the 2016 recruitment by May 31, Ghosh said, 'We don't want any new notification. Let the government consult legal experts to communicate our situation to the Hon'ble judges. We pray that the state submits before the SC the formation of a new panel containing the names of untainted candidates. The ball is in the SC's court now.' Expressing unhappiness over the absence of the education minister at the meeting, Habibulla, another delegation member, said: 'The officers we met did not have answers to several of our questions. They said they would communicate with the government regarding our stand. We also asked why the education minister was not taking part in the meeting. Several questions remain unanswered. So, we were dissatisfied. We wanted Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee or Education Minister Bratya Basu to meet us, but it did not happen. There are certain issues which can only be addressed at the ministerial level. We will send a fresh mail to the Education Minister requesting a face-to-face discussion. We still want to meet the CM and the education minister,' he added. Stating that they would take their protest to Delhi, Habibulla said: 'We will take the protest to Delhi. It will not stay in Bengal. We feel we did not get justice. The Supreme Court did not see our side. Therefore, the order of the Supreme court should be reviewed,' added Habibulla. Earlier in the day, Chinmoy Mondol, the face of the agitating teachers, was summoned to the Bidhannagar North Police station over the May 15 violent protests. The protesting teachers have been staging a sit-in near Bikash Bhavan for the past three weeks, demanding reinstatement. Tensions escalated on May 15 when over a thousand protesters entered Bikash Bhavan compound and refused to allow state employees to leave until they received assurances that no fresh recruitment tests would be required. Police later resorted to a lathi-charge, leaving several protesters injured. The Supreme Court on April 3 had invalidated the appointments of 25,753 teaching and non-teaching staff of state-aided schools, deeming the recruitment process 'vitiated and tainted.' — With PTI
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Undergraduate admissions through centralised portal to start next wk
1 2 Kolkata: Undergraduate admissions through the centralized admission portal (CAP) are set to start next week. State education minister Bratya Basu clarified on Sunday that the legal issue over reservations for OBC candidates would not impact the overall admission procedure. UG admissions across 460-odd colleges and universities in Bengal through the centralised portal has been stalled owing to the OBC-related case in the Supreme Court. The education department has written to the advocate-general (AG), seeking clarification on starting college admissions. "This is an ongoing legal matter, and the higher authority is looking into it. We are waiting for the final nod from the higher authority to start admissions. The centralized admission portal was launched last year, and this year, too, admissions will be conducted on it smoothly. Legal issues will not impact the overall admission process," said Basu after the 33rd annual general meeting and annual conference of All Bengal Principals' Council on Sunday. However, private and autonomous colleges, which are not part of the centralised portal, such as St Xavier's College and Ramakrishna Mission institutes, have started their admissions. An official said the portal was ready and it would be opened once the higher education department gave the go-ahead. Senior officials of the department hinted at the possible elimination of the OBC criteria from the UG level to avoid further legal issues, but everything depended on the reply from the AG. However, Basu made it clear on Sunday that everything depends on the final nod on this matter from the higher authorities. A higher education department official pointed out that among the reserved seats, those set aside for the OBC category had the highest number of takers and at the end of the admission process, hardly any vacancy was reported in that slot. College principals are also concerned about filling up seats as admissions under the centralised portal are yet to start, while private and autonomous colleges and universities are already conducting the process. The principal of a north Kolkata college said, "We received some enquiries from applicants who asked about the tentative date for the opening of the admission portal. We told them to keep an eye on the website as the entire process will be online." Basu, too, reiterated that "this would not be a major issue and would not impact the admission". "Last time, there were some vacancies in some particular subjects that might remain vacant this year, too, but overall, admissions through the centralised portal would be smooth, just like last year," he said. Asutosh College principal Manas Kabi said they had full faith in the govt and that they hoped the process would start soon. New Alipore College principal Jaydeep Sarangi said, "Today, we couldn't get any time to discuss the matter, but we are hopeful about admissions beginning shortly."
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Protect Bengal's cultural identity, Bratya urges educators
Kolkata: Bengal education minister Bratya Basu on Sunday stressed the need to preserve Bengal's cultural identity amid growing religious polarisation in India. Addressing the 33rd annual general meeting of All Bengal Principals' Council, he emphasised the crucial role of educators in safeguarding the state's heritage. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "There is an alarming tendency to impose external identities in terms of language, food habits and religious narratives," he said, and drew parallels with the Bengali language movement during Bangladesh's liberation struggle. The meeting, attended by Kolkata mayor Firhad Hakim, highlighted the growing tension between regional identity and national integration. Stressing national unity, Hakim declared: "We have only one identity — that we are Indians." He also brought up the importance of constitutional values and secularism. Rashbehari MLA Debashish Kumar made a distinction between religious faith and extremism. He said the declining number of rational thinkers was a national challenge, and called for educational intervention. Basu called upon educational institutes to resist what he described as attempts to impose external cultural narratives on Bengal.
