Mon May 19 18:12:42 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and rewritten news article based on the provided text:
**Summary:**
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addressed the ongoing protests by teachers whose appointments were cancelled due to irregularities in the 2016 recruitment process. She urged the teachers to trust the state government and pursue legal avenues, highlighting the government’s review petition and efforts to protect their jobs. She condemned the violent protests that occurred earlier, suggesting the involvement of outsiders and emphasizing the need to respect the law. Protesting teachers, however, expressed their dwindling trust in the government, citing past disappointments and urging immediate action. A group of teachers claiming to be untainted victims has requested a meeting with government officials.
**News Article:**
**West Bengal CM Urges Protesting Teachers to Trust Government, Pursue Legal Avenues**
**KOLKATA, May 19, 2025** – West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addressed the ongoing protests by teachers affected by the cancellation of nearly 26,000 teaching and non-teaching staff appointments, urging them to trust the state government and fight the situation legally. The Supreme Court earlier upheld the Calcutta High Court’s decision to cancel the appointments due to irregularities in the 2016 recruitment process.
Banerjee highlighted the government’s efforts, including filing a review petition and providing allowances for Group-C and Group-D workers affected by the cancellation. “They should have trusted the State government… We have filed a review petition from our end. Our lawyers will try to ensure that their jobs remain intact,” she stated.
The Chief Minister also condemned the violent clashes that occurred on May 15 outside the West Bengal Education Department, suggesting that “outsiders” were involved in the protests. She maintained that while she sympathizes with the teachers, the law must be followed and public disruption is unacceptable.
However, Banerjee’s plea for trust has been met with skepticism from a large section of the protesting teachers. “Can we quietly wait in hopes of the government fighting for us anymore?” questioned Chinmoy Mondal, a protesting teacher, expressing a loss of faith in the administration. They cited past disappointments and the urgency of their situation.
Adding to the complexity, a group of assistant teachers claiming to be innocent victims of the appointment cancellations has requested a meeting with the Chief Minister, Education Minister, and other officials to discuss their plight.
The Supreme Court has granted relief to the affected teachers, allowing them to continue their jobs until the government completes a fresh hiring process by December 31, 2025. The situation remains tense as the government seeks to navigate the legal complexities and address the concerns of the protesting teachers.
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