West Bengal Teachers Recruitment Scam: Supreme Court declares appointment of 25,753 teachers illegal, BJP demands resignation of CM Mamata

West Bengal Teacher Scam 2016: In a major setback to the West Bengal government, the Supreme Court on Thursday (3 April) declared the appointment of 25,753 teachers and other staff in government and government-aided schools in the state as illegal. Delivering its verdict on 127 petitions regarding the Calcutta High Court verdict, the Supreme Court said, "In our view, this is a case in which the entire selection process is invalid. Large-scale manipulation and fraud as well as attempts to cover up the matter have damaged the selection process beyond repair."

A bench of Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar, while upholding the 22 April 2024 decision of the Calcutta High Court to cancel the appointments, said, "The credibility and validity of the selection has diminished, so we have to uphold it (the High Court order) with some modifications." While delivering the verdict, the CJI said that the employees whose appointments have been canceled. They do not need to return the salary and other allowances earned so far.

Relief to disabled employees

According to news agency PTI, however, the apex court gave exemption to the disabled employees on humanitarian grounds and said that they will continue in the job. The bench fixed April 4 for hearing the petition of the West Bengal government challenging the High Court's order for investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). On February 10, the apex court had reserved its decision on several petitions related to the case. The court said that those who have got the job wrongly can be removed.

The apex court also ordered the state government to start the selection process afresh and complete it within three months. The apex court began the final hearing on December 19 last year and heard arguments from all sides on January 15, 27 and February 10 before reserving its verdict on the politically sensitive case.

High Court decision

Citing tampering of OMR sheets and other irregularities, the High Court had invalidated the appointment of 25,753 teachers and non-teaching staff in state-run and government-aided schools in West Bengal. On May 7 last year, the apex court had stayed the High Court order on appointments made by the state's School Service Commission (SSC). However, the apex court allowed the CBI to continue investigating the case.

What is the whole matter?

The case is related to alleged irregularities in the 2016 recruitment process conducted by West Bengal SSC. 23 lakh candidates appeared for 24,640 posts. A total of 25,753 appointment letters were issued. The apex court had termed it a systematic fraud. Former West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee and Trinamool Congress MLAs Manik Bhattacharya and Jeevan Krishna Saha are among the accused under investigation in the recruitment scam.

BJP demanded resignation from Mamta

The West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday held West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee responsible for the plight of around 26,000 teachers and demanded her resignation.

BJP's West Bengal unit president and Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar said in a post on X, "The entire responsibility for such massive corruption in teacher recruitment lies with the failed state chief minister Mamata Banerjee. The Supreme Court verdict has made it clear how the merit of educated unemployed youth in West Bengal was sold for money under Mamata Banerjee's rule."

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"I demand the failed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to take full responsibility for this corruption and her immediate resignation. No more apologies," Majumdar said.