NEW DELHI: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday expressed her discontent with the Supreme Court’s verdict upholding the cancellation of 25,000 teacher and non-teaching staff appointments in government schools, a major blow to her government.
“Have highest regard for judiciary but can’t accept judgement,” Banerjee said.
Drawing a comparison with MP’s Vyapam scam, she added, “West Bengal’s ex-education minister is in jail, how many BJP leaders were arrested in MP’s Vyapam case?”
“Does BJP want to ensure collapse of Bengal’s education system? ” Banerjee questioned further.
Assuring those affected by the ruling, Banerjee said, “Will meet those who have lost jobs, ask them not to lose hope.”
She also announced her plans to stand by the candidates, stating, “Our lawyers will review this matter. I know candidates are depressed. I will meet them on 7th April at Netaji Indoor Stadium. I’m with candidates on humanitarian grounds. For this step, if BJP wants to send me to jail, they can. Catch me if you are ready for that.”
TMC also accused the BJP and the central government of politically targeting Bengal. “SSC is an autonomous body. We, as Government, will not interfere with their work. If the Court mentioned three months (for a fresh selection process), we are with candidates on humanitarian grounds,” Banerjee said.
Banerjee further took a dig at the BJP, vowing to amend the Waqf Bill if a new government comes to power. “When BJP-led regime is ousted and new govt formed, will bring amendment to nullify Waqf Bill,” she declared.
‘Large-scale manipulation’
The apex court upheld the Calcutta high court’s ruling, citing large-scale manipulation and fraud in the recruitment process.
A bench of CJI Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar stated that the entire selection process was “vitiated and tainted” due to “large-scale and pervasive manipulations” and subsequent cover-ups.
“We have gone through the facts. Regarding the findings of this case, the entire selection process is vitiated by manipulation and fraud, and credibility and legitimacy are denuded. No reason to interfere. Tainted candidates must be terminated and appointments were resultant of cheating and thus fraud,” the court ruled.
The Supreme Court, however, clarified that previously employed teachers need not return the salaries they had received. It also allowed non-tainted candidates, who had prior government jobs before their selection as teachers, to return to their previous positions. The court ordered a fresh recruitment process for government and state-aided schools.
The verdict follows a review of over 120 petitions, including one filed by the Bengal government, challenging the Calcutta high court’s decision. Hearings took place between December 19 and February 10 before the court reserved its judgment.
The case stems from alleged irregularities in the 2016 recruitment process conducted by the West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC). While 23 lakh candidates applied for 24,640 posts, 25,753 appointment letters were issued. The high court found evidence of OMR sheet tampering and rank manipulation, leading to the mass cancellation of appointments.
On May 7, 2024, the Supreme Court had stayed the high court’s order but allowed the CBI to continue its investigation. The high court had also ruled that those who were appointed beyond the sanctioned vacancies, after the recruitment deadline, or despite submitting blank OMR sheets, must return all salaries and benefits received, along with 12% interest.
