SC stays CBI probe in Bengal school jobs scam
What's the story
The Supreme Court on Monday upheld a decision by the Calcutta High Court dismissing over 25,000 teachers recruited illegally in West Bengal.
The apex court, however, has stayed a part of the HC's order that had asked the Central Bureau of Investigation to probe into the role of Bengal government officials in the alleged teacher recruitment scam.
This comes as a huge relief for Mamata Banerjee's government.
Context
Why does this story matter?
In 2014, West Bengal announced the hiring of teachers for government schools through the State Level Selection Test process, which began in 2016.
However, some aspirants went to the Calcutta HC with complaints about the hiring process.
They claimed that some candidates with lower scores ranked higher on the merit list.
There were also claims that a few people who were not on the merit list at all got job offers.
Plea in court
SC hearing Bengal government's plea against HC order
The top court was hearing a petition by the Bengal government against the high court order invalidating the appointment of 25,753 teachers and non-teaching staff made by the School Service Commission in state-run and state-aided schools.
The state government, in its appeal, said the high court canceled the appointments "arbitrarily."
Notably, the high court had also ordered that these selected candidates must repay their entire salary "along with an annualized interest rate of 12%, within" four weeks.
In Supreme Court
Next hearing scheduled for May 6
During Monday's hearing, the apex court also expressed "serious concern" about the agency responsible for conducting the recruitment test.
It pointed out incidents such as the destruction of OMR answer sheets, deletion of software related to results, and the inclusion of people who were not members of the selection panel.
The Supreme Court has scheduled the next hearing for May 6.
On April 22
Calcutta HC overturns 2016 teacher recruitment
On April 22, a division bench of the Calcutta HC issued the order which canceled the illegal recruitment of 23, 753 teachers and non-teaching staff by the 2016 SCC in the state.
However, an exemption was granted to Soma Das, an appointee undergoing cancer treatment, allowing her to keep her position for humanitarian reasons.
The court also ordered fresh recruitment against the posts within 15 days.
Political slugfest
CM accused BJP of influencing judiciary, judgments
Reacting to the order, CM Banerjee had accused the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders of influencing the judiciary and judgments.
In response, the West Bengal BJP had hit out at the Trinamool Congress in an X post.
"The High Court has cancelled about 24,000 SSC recruitments from 2016, CBI can take anyone into custody. A smile has appeared on the faces of the worthy. This time, the nephew [Abhishek Banerjee] and his aunt [CM Banerjee] will be defeated. #TMCExposed," it said.
ED arrest
Recruitment scam: Several TMC leaders in custody
To recall, in August 2022, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested former Education Minister Partha Chatterjee and his close aide Arpita Mukherjee in the case.
Several SSC officials, including TMC MLA Manik Bhattacharya were also arrested. Notably, more than 23 lakh candidates appeared for the SLST 2016 for 24,640 vacant posts.
A total of 25,753 appointment letters were issued.