In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the Calcutta High Court’s verdict cancelling the appointment of 25,753 teachers and other staff in West Bengal’s state-run and aided schools, calling the recruitment process “vitiated and tainted.” The bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar directed the state to initiate a fresh selection process within three months.
Importantly, the court clarified that employees whose appointments are now invalidated would not be required to return salaries or other benefits already received. The court also granted an exemption to disabled staff on humanitarian grounds, allowing them to retain their jobs.
The order comes as a major blow to the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government, which has been facing scrutiny over alleged irregularities in the recruitment process under the School Service Commission (SSC). The apex court’s verdict has implications for teachers, librarians, and Group C and D staff appointed in the 2016 panel.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court will take up a separate plea on April 4 challenging the Calcutta High Court’s order for a CBI probe into the matter.
Reacting to the judgment, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed strong disagreement, stating, “While I have the highest respect for the judiciary and judges, I cannot accept the judgement from a humanitarian point of view.” Banerjee affirmed that the state government will follow the verdict while exploring “all legal options.”
She added, “As a citizen of this country, I have every right to an opinion. I respect the judge and the judiciary, but I cannot agree with the judgment.”
