Calcutta High Court Bans Rally of School Job Candidates on July 28

The Calcutta High Court has prohibited a planned rally by school job candidates set for July 28, following a refusal by police to grant permission for the event. This ruling came in response to a petition from a local shop owner, who argued that ongoing protests and processions along Nityadhan Mukherjee Road in Howrah were disrupting his business operations.

In the hearing, Justice Tirthankar Ghosh stated that the police would take necessary action against anyone violating the court’s order. He emphasized that any assembly of individuals that interferes with the business activities of the petitioner or other local traders would be met with legal consequences.

The police’s decision to deny permission for the rally stemmed from “cogent reasons,” as outlined by Advocate General Kishore Dutta, who represented the state government in court. The planned demonstration is organized by a group of individuals who lost their jobs after a Supreme Court ruling in April annulled the appointments of nearly 26,000 teaching and non-teaching staff in state-run schools.

Members of the rally’s organizing group assert that they acquired their positions through legitimate means and are not involved in any illegal activities. The outcome of this court ruling underscores the ongoing tensions surrounding employment disputes within the state’s educational system.

As the situation develops, the court’s firm stance on maintaining order highlights the balance between the right to protest and the need for business continuity in the region.