Kolkata, Oct. 28 -- In a major step to free educational institutions from political interference, the BJP government in West Bengal on Wednesday announced that teachers recruited through the School Service Commission (SSC) in future will not be allowed to participate directly in politics or contest elections to panchayats, municipalities, the state Assembly or the Lok Sabha.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced the decision after the state Cabinet meeting at Nabanna on Wednesday, clarifying that the restriction would apply to future recruits and not to existing teachers who are already holding elected or political positions.

"The new policy will not apply to the teachers who are already recruited but from now onward the teachers who ...