Teachers recruitment scam: HC cancels all appointments; over 24,000 Jobs axed
Calcutta high court has cancelled all appointments of teaching and non-teaching staff made through the 2016 state-level exams in the state govt-sponsored and aided schools.
The high court made the decision on Monday regarding the State Level Selection Test-2016 (SLST) in government-funded and supported schools in West Bengal. They declared the selection process invalid, cancelling all appointments made through it.
The court has ordered the School Service Commission (SSC) to conduct fresh recruitments and has instructed those who were recruited illegally to return their salary within six weeks.
A division bench, formed by the Chief Justice of the High Court at the direction of the Supreme Court, was hearing the matter. The bench comprising justices Debangsu Basak and Md Shabbar Rashidi also ordered the cancellation and called for the CBI to conduct further investigation into the appointment process. They requested a report from the CBI within three months.
The court’s decision applies to all appointments made by the SSC in the categories of teachers for classes 9, 10, 11, and 12, as well as group-C and D staffers, through the State Level Selection Test-2016 (SLST) where irregularities were found.
The court’s decision to cancel the recruitment panel is being considered as a major setback to the ruling Trinamool Congress government.
The Calcutta HC has also instructed West Bengal School Service Commission to initiate the fresh appointments in the next 15 days. Over 23 lakh candidates had appeared for the 2016 SLST for 24,640 vacant posts.
What is West Bengal teachers’ recruitment scam
The West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) teacher recruitment scam came to light after the arrest of Bengal BJP leader Partha Chatterjee, a Trinamool Congress leader who served as the education minister in Mamata Banerjee’s cabinet until his arrest on July 23, 2022.
Earlier on February 16, a team of the Enforcement Directorate conducted raids on close associates of Partha Chatterjee in Kolkata.
Chatterjee was arrested after Rs 21 crore in cash and jewellery worth above Rs 1 crore was recovered from the Kolkata residence of Arpita Mukherjee, a close aide of the former education minister.
Chatterjee and his aide Arpita Mukherjee, are facing a probe into the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) recruitment scam.
