Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency: Consecutive Resignations Following Change of Government! SSC Chairman and Board President Submit Resignation Letters.
The state's new government has directed a review of the governing bodies in various colleges and schools whose terms have expired. Additionally, orders have been issued to remove individuals—including those serving in District Primary Education Councils and other bodies—who have exceeded the prescribed age limit for their respective posts.
Officials who continued to hold office in various departments and bureaus of the state government even after the expiration of their terms are now resigning one after another. The wave of resignations has now reached the Education Department. Resignation letters from two key officials within the department have been received. Siddharth Majumdar, Chairman of the School Service Commission (SSC), and Ramanuj Ganguly, President of the Board of Secondary Education, have submitted their resignations in quick succession. The New Government’s ‘Action’ in the Education Department:
During the tenure of the Trinamool government, the Education Department faced the highest number of corruption allegations. A minister was arrested, and the individuals heading the Board and the Commission were replaced. However, sources indicate that the entire administrative structure established during the Trinamool era is now being dismantled. Consequently, the newly formed BJP government in the state is initiating a series of ‘actions’ within the Education Department. To ensure transparency in the education sector, the entire administrative machinery is undergoing a complete overhaul. Resignations of Siddharth and Ramanuj:
Amidst the backdrop of recruitment scandals, the previous state government had replaced the SSC Chairman following the recommendation of the then-Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay. Siddharth Majumdar was appointed to the post of Chairman in 2022. Recruitment examinations under the SSC were also conducted during his tenure. Siddharth was scheduled to retire from the post last January; however, the state government granted him a six-month extension. In total, Siddharth Majumdar served in the position for four years and four months. He has submitted his resignation letter to the Secretary of the Education Department. Meanwhile, Ramanuj Ganguly assumed the responsibility of President of the Board of Secondary Education after Kalyanmoy Gangopadhyay—a key accused in the education corruption scandal—stepped down. He had announced the results of the *Madhyamik* (Secondary) examinations just last week. Shortly thereafter, he submitted his resignation letter to the Chief Secretary.
Chairpersons Also Resigning:
The Chairpersons of the regional offices of the SSC have also tendered their resignations. Meanwhile, instructions have been issued to review the status of governing bodies in colleges and schools if their terms have expired. Additionally, directives have been issued to remove individuals who have exceeded the age limit from various institutions, including the District Primary Education Council.