The Supreme Court has intervened in the ongoing controversy surrounding a teacher recruitment scam in West Bengal, staying a Calcutta High Court order directing a CBI investigation into the role of state government officials. However, the cancellation of over 25,000 teacher and non-teaching staff appointments remains in effect.
The High Court’s order invalidated the appointments of 25,753 teachers and staff made by the School Service Commission (SSC) in state-run and state-aided schools. This decision triggered a legal battle between the state government and judicial authorities.
The Supreme Court, comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, refused to stay the cancellation of appointments but stayed the CBI probe into the involvement of state officials in the scam. The court emphasized the seriousness of affecting 25,000 jobs and questioned the possibility of segregating valid and invalid appointments based on available evidence.
The West Bengal government challenged the High Court’s order, arguing that the cancellations were arbitrary and detrimental to the education system. The government expressed concerns about the immediate termination of staff without adequate time to address the situation.
The High Court’s order declared the selection process null and void, citing violations of constitutional articles related to equality and discrimination in employment. It directed the CBI to investigate and instructed the SSC to initiate a fresh appointment process within a specified timeframe.
The controversy stems from alleged fraudulent appointments made beyond official vacancies and panel expiration dates. The High Court’s scrutiny revealed discrepancies in the selection process and criticized decisions at the state government level to protect illegal appointments.
While the Supreme Court’s intervention temporarily halts the CBI probe, the implications of the appointment cancellations and the broader investigation into the scam remain significant. The ongoing legal battle underscores the challenges in ensuring transparency and fairness in recruitment processes within the education sector.
Sources By Agencies