Big Blow To Mamata Govt As SC Upholds Calcutta HC Verdict To Cancel Appointment Of 25,000 Teachers In Bengal

Bengal SSC Recruitment Scam: Upholding the Calcutta High Court verdict, the Supreme Court of India has cancelled the appointment of 25,000 teaching and non-teaching staff under the Bengal School Service Commission. The apex court said that the entire selection process was "vitiated by manipulation and fraud" and its credibility and legitimacy "denuded", resulting in a huge blow to the Mamata Banerjee government. 

The court bench comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice PV Sanjay Kumar said that they saw no reason to interfere with the High Court order. The court observed that cheating had led to the selections and are a result of fraud. 

In the significant ruling, the court has directed the state government to complete the fresh appointments of teachers within a period of three months. The court said that those already on duty, who will be able to clear the examination, will not have to return the salaries they have drawn since their appointment in 2016. However, those who fail to clear the examination will be required to return the salaries they have drawn. The apex court has provided a big relief to persons with disabilities as they will not have to appear in the fresh examinations, and they can continue their present posting. 

The Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, had moved to the Supreme Court against the Calcutta High Court verdict and had demanded the segregation of tainted and untainted candidates. The alleged fake vacancies created by the state government remained at the centre of the row. More than 23 lakh candidates had appeared for the state-level selection test in 2016. The number of vacant posts was 24,640, but 25,753 appointment letters were issued. It is alleged that these supernumerary posts provided room for illegal recruitment. 

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Several of its top leaders, including a former education minister and a trusted lieutenant of Mamata Banerjee, are in jail in connection with the case

'Crushing Defeat' For Mamata Banerjee

Describing the SC verdict as a ‘crushing defeat’ for Banerjee, BJP leader Amit Malviya said, "Mamata Banerjee's close aide, Partha Chatterjee-who served as the Education Minister and was caught with wads of cash-is already in jail for his role in the scam. The Chief Minister, under whose watch this massive fraud ruined the careers of thousands of youths, must also be held accountable and face trial.”

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