In a major setback for the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government, the Supreme Court has upheld the Calcutta High Court’s order, scrapping the appointment of over 25,000 teachers and non-teaching staff recruited through the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC). The apex court ruled that the entire recruitment process was “manipulated and fraudulent,” rendering it illegitimate.
Supreme Court’s Decision
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice PV Sanjay Kumar stated that it found no reason to interfere with the High Court’s ruling. The court emphasized that the appointments were a result of cheating and thus could not be upheld as legitimate.
As per the Supreme Court’s order, the West Bengal government must conduct a fresh selection process within three months. Candidates who qualify through this fresh process will not have to return their salaries drawn since their appointments in 2016. However, those who fail to clear the new selection process will be required to repay their earnings. The court provided an exemption for persons with disabilities, allowing them to continue in their current positions.
Background of the Recruitment Scam
The controversy revolves around supernumerary posts allegedly created by the West Bengal government. In 2016, over 23 lakh candidates appeared for the state-level selection test. While the official number of vacancies stood at 24,640, appointment letters were issued to 25,753 candidates. This discrepancy raised suspicions of large-scale irregularities in recruitment, leading to allegations of illegal appointments.
The scam has already led to the arrest of several Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders, including former education minister Partha Chatterjee, a close associate of Mamata Banerjee. He was caught with large amounts of cash, allegedly linked to the recruitment scam.
Political Reactions
The Supreme Court’s verdict has sparked strong political reactions. Senior BJP leader Amit Malviya called the judgment a “crushing defeat” for Mamata Banerjee. He accused the Chief Minister of overseeing a fraudulent recruitment process that jeopardized the careers of thousands of aspiring teachers. Malviya further demanded that Banerjee be held accountable for the scam.
The ruling is a significant blow to the TMC government, which has been under scrutiny for corruption allegations in recent years. With the court mandating a fresh recruitment process, the state government now faces the challenge of conducting a transparent selection while dealing with the political fallout of the scandal.
Sources By Agencies
