In a significant blow to the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, the Calcutta High Court on Monday cancelled all appointments of teaching and non-teaching staff made through the 2016 state-level test in West Bengal government-sponsored and aided secondary and higher secondary schools.
Following the court’s order, 25,753 jobs were cancelled. The division bench led by Justice Debangsu Basak and comprising Justice Md Shabbar Rashidi also directed that the board must conduct a fresh recruitment process.
The court further noted that the answer sheets of Group C, Group D, Class IX and X were manipulated in 2016 and thereby cancelled the names of those who were recruited by the panel. “We have no other way but to cancel the whole recruitment panel,” Justice Basak said.
Additionally, the court mandated that individuals who were appointed must repay their salary within four weeks.
LATEST UPDATES
- Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reacted to the court’s verdict in connection to the SSC case and called it an illegal order. She said, “A few days ago, they [BJP] were talking about explosives. What was it? Snatching jobs of 26,000 people. No matter what happens, we will continue the fight. Those who lost their jobs should not be depressed. We stand beside you and we will continue to do so. This was the order of someone who has now joined the BJP.” She further said, “Supreme Court had set this aside and called for a new division bench. But who will constitute the new division bench? Justice is crying. We challenge the verdict, as it affects 1.5-2 lakh families. Is it possible to return the salary of eight years in 4 weeks? Unemployment is increasing in the country and here in Bengal, they are using the law to snatch jobs of people.”
- The School Service Commissioner has declared that they will move to the Supreme Court challenging the Calcutta High Court’s order.
- Former Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee following the court’s verdict. In November 2021, Gangopadhyay had directed a CBI inquiry into the SSC corruption case.
- The Bharatiya Janata Party attacked the TMC government after the court’s ruling. Taking to X, BJP’s IT Cell Head Amit Malviya said, “The Calcutta High Court’s judgment on the SSC recruitment scam in West Bengal is massive. Approx 25,735 jobs (Group C, Group D, Secondary and Senior Secondary) have been declared null and void. Chief Ministers for similar scams, much smaller in size, have gone to jail. This is undoubtedly the biggest Govt sponsored recruitment scam. Lives of millions of Youth have been ruined.”
- TMC leader Kunal Ghosh reacted to the court’s ruling and said that the employment of qualified candidates should not be hindered. Taking to X, he said, “Where there is wrong, injustice, let there be system. The guilty should be punished. But, employment of qualified candidates should not be hindered. The government of @MamataOfficial tried their job with sincere goodwill. Let not the meritorious be left in limbo in preferring some injustice. The government has done what is necessary for their interest. They need jobs immediately. I hope the government’s efforts to open this job mess will be recognized by the court verdict.”
- The Calcutta HC bench directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct further investigation into the appointment process and submit a report within three months.
- The court directed authorities to upload answer sheets of the SSC recruitment test on their website in order to ensure transparency.
- As per the order by the Calcutta High Court, appointments granted in the selection processes involved being violative of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India and have thereby been declared null and void and cancelled.
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