Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: In a significant blow to the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government, the Supreme Court upheld the Calcutta High Court’s ruling, canceling appointments of over 25,000 teachers and non-teaching staff made through the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC). The apex court stated that the entire selection procedure was marred by “fraud and manipulation,” rendering the recruitment illegitimate.
The bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice PV Sanjay Kumar refused to intervene against the Calcutta High Court’s judgment, asserting that the appointments had resulted from fraudulent practices.
The court directed the state government to conduct a fresh selection process within three months. Those candidates who successfully clear the new process will not be required to refund the salaries they received since their initial appointment in 2016. However, unsuccessful candidates must repay the salary drawn. The court granted exceptions for individuals with disabilities, permitting them to continue in their current positions.
The Mamata Banerjee government had approached the Supreme Court seeking relief against the high court order, requesting segregation between genuine and fraudulent appointments.
Central to the controversy are additional supernumerary posts allegedly created unlawfully by the state government. Although around 24,640 vacancies existed, 25,753 appointments were made from among the over 23 lakh candidates who appeared for the 2016 recruitment exams. These excess appointments have come under scrutiny for allegedly facilitating irregular recruitments.
The recruitment scandal has severely tarnished the image of the Trinamool Congress, with several senior leaders, including former Education Minister Partha Chatterjee, already incarcerated over their involvement.
Responding to the Supreme Court’s decision, senior BJP leader Amit Malviya termed the ruling a “crushing defeat” for Mamata Banerjee, demanding accountability from the Chief Minister herself. “Partha Chatterjee, Mamata Banerjee’s trusted aide, is already jailed for involvement in this scam. The Chief Minister, under whose leadership this massive fraud occurred and destroyed thousands of careers, must also face accountability and trial,” he said.
