In a significant administrative overhaul, the newly formed state government in Kolkata directed all departments on Monday to immediately terminate the tenures of nominated members, directors, and chairpersons serving in various non-statutory bodies, boards, organisations, and public sector undertakings. The directive triggered a wave of resignations across these entities and raised uncertainty regarding the publication of Higher Secondary (HS) results and the conduct of the Bengal Joint Entrance Examination (JEE). However, department officials assured that these critical processes would proceed without interruption, even if the heads are removed.
Resignations and Concerns
The heads of several boards and councils under the higher education and school education departments began submitting letters seeking release orders to return to their previous workplaces. Notably, Kartik Manna, chairperson of the Durgapur Projects & Supply Company (DPSC), resigned on May 8. A major concern emerged over the HS results, scheduled to be declared on May 14, while the Bengal JEE is set for May 24. The president and secretary of the HS Council fall under the purview of this order. A school education department official stated, "There will be no interruption in the publication of results or the conducting of exams."
Recruitment and Statutory Bodies
Similar concerns apply to the Secondary School Certificate (SSC), where recruitment of assistant teachers is ongoing at the HS level, and document verification has commenced at the secondary level. Interviews and other processes are pending for staff recruitment to meet the August deadline set by the Supreme Court. However, officials assured that the recruitment process would not be paused. No members of the West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights or the West Bengal Commission for Women resigned, as both are statutory bodies exempt from the order.
Implementation and Previous Resignations
The order also mandates the immediate termination of services for officers and officials serving on re-employment or extension beyond the normal retirement age of 60 years across government departments. All additional chief secretaries, principal secretaries, and secretaries have been instructed to take "action" to implement the order with immediate effect. Earlier, three former state chief secretaries—Alapan Bandyopadhyay, Hari Krishna Dwivedi, and B P Gopalika—resigned as chief advisors to former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee following the BJP's victory. Manoj Pant, another former chief secretary, also resigned as principal secretary to Banerjee, according to sources.
