West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday strongly opposed the Supreme Court’s verdict upholding the cancellation of 25,000 teacher and non-teaching staff appointments in government schools, calling it a major setback for her administration.
“I have the highest regard for the judiciary, but I cannot accept this judgment,” Banerjee declared.
Drawing a comparison to Madhya Pradesh’s Vyapam scam, she questioned the disparity in legal action, stating, “West Bengal’s ex-education minister is in jail, but how many BJP leaders were arrested in MP’s Vyapam case?” She further accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of orchestrating the crisis, asking, “Does BJP want to ensure the collapse of Bengal’s education system?”
Assurance to Affected Candidates
Banerjee sought to reassure the candidates impacted by the verdict, urging them not to lose hope.
“I will meet those who have lost their jobs and ask them not to be discouraged,” she said. She further announced plans to address the candidates directly, stating, “Our lawyers will review this matter. I know candidates are depressed. I will meet them on April 7 at Netaji Indoor Stadium. I am with them on humanitarian grounds.”
In a direct challenge to the BJP, she declared, “If BJP wants to send me to jail for this, they can. Catch me if you are ready for that.”
TMC Alleges Political Targeting by BJP
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) accused the BJP and the central government of political interference, asserting that Bengal was being unfairly targeted.
“The SSC is an autonomous body. As a government, we will not interfere in its work. If the Court has given three months for a fresh selection process, we stand by the candidates on humanitarian grounds,” Banerjee said.
She also took aim at the BJP’s governance, vowing to amend the Waqf Bill if her party regains power.
“When the BJP-led regime is ousted and a new government is formed, we will bring an amendment to nullify the Waqf Bill,” she asserted.
Supreme Court’s Ruling: ‘Large-Scale Manipulation and Fraud’
The Supreme Court upheld the Calcutta High Court’s verdict, citing widespread fraud and manipulation in the 2016 teacher recruitment process.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar ruled that the selection process was “vitiated and tainted” due to “large-scale and pervasive manipulations” and subsequent cover-ups.
“We have reviewed the findings of this case. The entire selection process is vitiated by manipulation and fraud, completely undermining its credibility and legitimacy. There is no reason to interfere. Tainted candidates must be terminated as their appointments were the result of cheating and fraud,” the court ruled.
However, the Supreme Court provided relief to previously employed teachers, stating that they would not be required to return the salaries they had received. Additionally, candidates who had held government jobs before their appointment as teachers were allowed to return to their previous positions. The court ordered a fresh recruitment process for government and state-aided schools.
Background of the Case
The verdict follows a review of over 120 petitions, including one filed by the West Bengal government, challenging the Calcutta High Court’s decision. The hearings took place between December 19 and February 10, after which the Supreme Court reserved its judgment.
The case originates from irregularities in the 2016 teacher 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, exceeding the sanctioned vacancies. 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 temporarily stayed the high court’s order but allowed the CBI to continue its investigation. The Calcutta High Court had earlier ruled that candidates who were appointed beyond sanctioned vacancies, after the recruitment deadline, or with blank OMR sheets must return all salaries and benefits received, along with 12% interest.
As the controversy unfolds, Banerjee’s defiant stance sets the stage for a political and legal battle over the future of Bengal’s education system.
.png)
The opinions posted here do not belong to 🔰www.indiansdaily.com. The author is solely responsible for the opinions.
As per the IT policy of the Central Government, insults against an individual, community, religion or country, defamatory and inflammatory remarks, obscene and vulgar language are punishable offenses. Legal action will be taken for such expressions of opinion.