Prabir Karmakar, a 34-year-old English teacher from Murshidabad, West Bengal, died on Wednesday night after allegedly suffering a stroke, days after losing his job due to the Supreme Court’s annulment of more than 25,000 school appointments made through the 2016 School Service Commission (SSC) recruitment.
His death has allegedly intensified protests by thousands of sacked teachers, who accuse both the state and central governments of neglect and demand their reinstatement.
In response, the state government has issued a notification for fresh SSC exams, a move that has allegedly deepened the anxiety and sense of injustice among affected teachers. The situation remains tense, with detentions reported as teachers continue their demonstrations.
Grief and Anger: Community Mourns as Protests Escalate
Karmakar, who taught at Amuipara Udbastu Vidyapith in Raghunathganj, was reportedly struggling with kidney-related ailments and mounting financial insecurity after his dismissal. Family members and colleagues allege that the stress of losing his job, coupled with the uncertainty of his future and the cost of ongoing medical treatment, contributed to his untimely death.
“He was unable to cope with the shock and humiliation of being labelled as ‘tainted’ despite years of dedicated service,” said Chinmoy Mondal, a protesting teacher.
On Friday, nearly 50 teachers were allegedly detained by police while marching towards the state secretariat in Kolkata, demanding immediate reinstatement and an end to what they describe as “repeated harassment” through fresh recruitment exams. Protesters allege that the government’s actions are insensitive and have failed to address the human impact of the crisis.
Background: Alleged Recruitment Scam and Political Fallout
The crisis stems from the Supreme Court’s April 2025 verdict, which annulled 25,753 teaching and non-teaching appointments made through the 2016 WBSSC recruitment process, following revelations of an alleged large-scale scam. The Court found that authorities failed to distinguish between ‘tainted’ and ‘untainted’ candidates, leading to mass terminations.
The fallout has triggered a political blame game, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing the West Bengal government of “destroying the education system,” while Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has pointed to alleged corruption in BJP-ruled states and accused the Centre of hypocrisy.
The teachers’ forum, Yogyo Shikshak Shikshika Odhikar Mancha, has allegedly blamed the state’s mishandling of the issue for Karmakar’s death. Despite ongoing protests and legal appeals, the state government has proceeded with plans for a new round of SSC exams, a move that many teachers allege is unjust and disregards their years of service.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The tragic and allegedly preventable loss of Prabir Karmakar is a stark reminder of the profound human cost behind administrative and judicial decisions. While it is crucial to uphold transparency and fairness in recruitment, the absence of empathetic engagement and timely support for affected teachers allegedly deepens their distress and erodes trust in public institutions.
The Logical Indian believes that constructive dialogue, transparent processes, and compassion must be at the heart of any solution. As a society, we must ask: How can we ensure that the pursuit of justice does not come at the expense of humanity and dignity?
