Bengal SSC scam: Calcutta HC overturns 2016 teacher recruitment
What's the story
A division bench of the Calcutta High Court on Monday canceled the illegal recruitment of 23,753 teachers and non-teaching staff by the 2016 School Service Commission (SSC) in West Bengal, ordering them to return their salaries with interest.
The court also ordered fresh recruitment against the posts within 15 days.
A division bench, comprising Justices Debangsu Basak and Mohd Shabbar Rashidi, also directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate further into the irregularities surrounding the 2016 selection process.
Context
Why does this story matter?
In 2014, West Bengal announced the hiring of teachers for government schools through the State Level Selection Test process, which began in 2016.
However, some aspirants went to the Calcutta HC with complaints about the hiring process.
They claimed that some candidates with lower scores ranked higher on the merit list.
There were also claims that a few people who were not on the merit list at all got job offers.
Refund directive
District magistrates assigned to collect salaries from teachers
The bench observed that several OMR sheets were manipulated in 2016 making all the recruitments illegal. District magistrates are assigned to collect the salaries from the teachers, it added.
However, an exemption has been granted to Soma Das, an appointee undergoing cancer treatment, allowing her to keep her position for humanitarian reasons.
The state government is likely to contest this ruling in the Supreme Court.
Political slugfest
CM accuses BJP of influencing judiciary, judgments
Reacting to the order, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders of influencing the judiciary and judgments.
In response, the West Bengal BJP hit out at the Trinamool Congress in an X post.
"The High Court has cancelled about 24,000 SSC recruitments from 2016, CBI can take anyone into custody. A smile has appeared on the faces of the worthy. This time, the nephew [Abhishek Banerjee] and his aunt [CM Banerjee] will be defeated. #TMCExposed," it said.
ED arrest
Recruitment scam: Several TMC leaders in custody
To recall, in August 2022, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested former Education Minister Partha Chatterjee and his close aide Arpita Mukherjee in the case.
Several SSC officials, including TMC MLA Manik Bhattacharya were also arrested.
Notably, more than 23 lakh candidates appeared for the SLST 2016 for 24,640 vacant posts. A total of 25,753 appointment letters were issued.