Soma Das, the cancer survivor and the sole exception to the Calcutta High Court’s order nullifying the appointments of nearly 26,000 teachers and non-teaching staff, expressed her disappointment and empathy following the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the High Court’s verdict.
While she considers herself “fortunate” to retain her position as a teacher of Bangla, Das feels that it’s injustice for thousands who are now facing sacking. “This is something that nobody was expecting,” a disheartened Soma Das told The Indian Express over the phone on Thursday after the Supreme Court’s order.
“I don’t have words to express my sympathy for them. Our fight was for a corruption-free education system. Those who were deserving candidates have been fighting to get their jobs but have been deprived because of the corrupt system. Sadly, today both have been brought on the same page — the one who got the job through corrupt means and the one who got it out of sheer hard work,” said Das, who was allowed by the High Court to keep her job at Modhura High School in Birbhum district on “humanitarian grounds”.
“I may be lucky that I am still a teacher. But I feel for those genuine candidates who lost their jobs,” she said, adding “the fight should continue”.
Das also voiced her concerns about the alleged destruction of OMR sheets, a crucial piece of evidence in the case, highlighting the lack of transparency that has further aggravated the situation for the affected individuals. “I will feel the happiest when all the deserving candidates get their jobs back.”
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