Teachers of state aided and sponsored schools will now have to undergo police verification before their appointment, the state government has notified in the amended code of conduct for teachers.

This is a major departure from the previous code of conduct issued by the state government last November where it had been stated that teachers will have to undergo police verification “before confirmation in the post of a teacher” within two years of appointment.

After much controversy over the last set of code of conducts, the state government has issued fresh code of conduct on Friday with few alterations.

Severe protests had erupted in the state regarding the code which barred teachers from going to court against the government. The teachers can now, however, approach the judiciary, but after prior intimation.

The restriction of teachers for attending any social gathering has also been lifted in the face of vehement protests from several teachers’ organisations in the state.

Teachers were prohibited to participate in any programme without the permission of the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE).

Teachers can now attend social gatherings and programmes even without the permission of the board. In fact TMC-backed teachers’ organisations were also unhappy with this previous rule.

The code had also instructed that teachers will have to seek permission of the board who is also the “appointing authority” before writing for any publication.

The code has been tweaked to include that teachers now will have to only take permission of the “committee”, referring to the managing committee of schools.

However, the new code of conduct retains the restrictions imposed on private tuitions and asset declaration despite several teachers objecting to them.

The Bengal Teachers and Employees’ Association (BTEA), Left-backed teachers’ organisation who had been protesting against code of conduct issued last November, appreciated the amendment.

“We had been protesting against the earlier codes and the government has taken account of our demands. However, the state could have discussed these issues with teachers’ organisations before finalising the new set of rules,” Swapan Mondal, the secretary of BTEA, said.