WPA/25184/2026 of SUBHAS CHANDRA HAZRA Vs STATE OF WEST BENGAL AND ORS. on 16 September 2026

1. Affidavit of service filed in Court today is taken on record.

2. The petitioner is serving in Gurguripal High School (HS) in the district of Paschim Medinipur. He was directed to officiate in the post of Headmaster with effect from 1st August, 2025 till the joining of the Headmaster or until further order, whichever is earlier.

3. He alleges that while he was officiating in the post of Headmaster, an untoward incident took place in the office of the Headmaster on 30th July, 2026. Certain persons forcefully entered into the office of the Headmaster and unplugged the CCTV. The petitioner was manhandled, abused and forced to sign a resignation letter. The petitioner had to seek help from the police who arrived at the spot and rescued him and took him to the police station where he was made to wait till 11.00 o’clock at night after which he was released.

4. Specific case made out by the petitioner is that the resignation letter was not a voluntary one. The same has been obtained upon exercise of force, coercion and pressure being put upon him. The petitioner never submitted such letter of resignation before any authority.

5. By a communication dated 10th August, 2026, allegedly by the Administrator of the school, the petitioner was instructed to hand over all charges, assets, documents and liabilities of the school to one Mr. Arup Kumar Mondal, Teacher-in-Charge of the institution within four days. As the petitioner did not submit any resignation letter, accordingly, he refused to hand over charge as directed.

6. The petitioner was thereafter issued reminder letter for handing over of charge on 19th August, 2026. The petitioner is aggrieved by the same.

7. It has been submitted that as the alleged resignation letter of the petitioner was obtained forcefully and the petitioner never submitted the resignation letter before any authority, the said resignation letter ought not to be acted upon by the authority. The same cannot be used against the petitioner.

8. Prayer has been made to direct the District Inspector of Schools (SE), Paschim Medinipur to refrain from taking any steps in response to the alleged resignation letter.

9. Some of the approved teachers of the school seek to intervene in the instant writ petition. It has been submitted that the acts and activities of the petitioner are such that it is affecting the education of the students of the said school. There are series of allegations against the petitioner by the intervenors.

10. In response to the complaint lodged by the intervenors, a notice dated 14th September, 2026 has been issued by the Member Secretary, West Bengal Commission for Women to the District Inspector of Schools (SE), Paschim Medinipur with a request to enquire into the allegations made against the petitioner and to furnish a report before the Commission within 14th October, 2026.

11. Learned advocate representing the State respondents relies upon the report forwarded by the Officer-in-Charge, Gurguripal Police Station, Paschim Medinipur signed on 13th September, 2026 wherein it has been mentioned that on receipt of an information on 30th April, 2026, police personnel proceeded to the place of occurrence and with the intervention of the police, the situation has been brought under control. The petitioner was thereafter brought to the police station. He was neither arrested nor unlawfully detained. His presence in the police station was solely for maintaining law and order and to ensure that the situation does not deteriorate further.

12. Upon heading submissions made on behalf of all the parties and on perusal of the documents annexed to the writ petition, it appears that the petitioner has already lodged a complaint before the District Inspector of Schools disclosing that the resignation which has been sought to be acted upon was obtained by force and compulsion.

13. A complaint by the petitioner has also been forwarded to the Officer-in-Charge of the subject police station and also to the Superintendent of Police, Paschim Medinipur.

14. The District Inspector of Schools (SE), Paschim Medinipur is directed to grant an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner and all other stakeholders to find out a solution to the problem that has cropped up.

15. After hearing the submission of all the parties, the District Inspector of Schools shall take proper steps in the matter in accordance with law.

16. Steps shall be taken by the District Inspector of Schools to resolve the issue at the earliest but positively within a fortnight from the date of communication of this order.

17. The Officer-in-Charge of Gurguripal Police Station is directed to ensure that there is no breach of peace and tranquility in the school premises and the day-to-day functioning of the school is not hampered or interfered with in any manner whatsoever by any of the parties.

18. The police shall continue to take steps in accordance with law in response to the complaint(s) received.

19. The writ petition stands disposed of.

20. All parties shall act on the basis of a server copy of this order duly downloaded from the official website of this Court.

21. Certified server copy of this order, if applied for, be supplied to the parties on compliance of all requisite formalities.

(Amrita Sinha, J.)