West Bengal Recruitment Scam: SC Allows 'Untainted' Teachers To Continue Till New Appointments; Sets December 31 Deadline For Fresh Hiring
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday provided relief to untainted teachers for classes 9-12, whose appointments had been cancelled earlier this month due to alleged irregularities in the West Bengal recruitment process. The top court stressed that students should not suffer due to the alleged scam. The apex court also directed the state government to complete the fresh recruitment process for the posts of assistant teachers by December 31 this year.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar directed the state government and School Services Commission (SSC) to release advertisements regarding the fresh recruitment drive and to file an affidavit in this regard by May 31, 2025.
“We are inclined to accept the prayer made in the application in so far as it relates to the assistant teachers of classes 9 and 10 and classes 11 and 12. Subject to the following conditions that the ad for fresh recruitment shall be out by May 31 and the exam, including the entire process, shall be done by December 31,” the SC bench said as quoted by NDTV.
The court also warned the state government and the SSC to issue orders if the advertisement regarding the fresh recruitment is not published as directed. Notably, this relief is not provided to the non-teaching staff -- Group C and Group D.
April 3 Judgment:
Earlier on April 3, the Supreme Court upheld the Calcutta High Court order, cancelling the appointment of teachers and non-teaching staff by the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC). Over 25,000 teachers and non-teaching staff were hired by the WBSSC in 2016.
A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and Justice PV Sanjiv Kumar refused to stay the Calcutta High Court's decision of cancelling around 25,000 appointments made by the West Bengal Government. The top court observed that the appointments were made by manipulations and fraud.
The alleged scam is related to various appointments made in primary and secondary schools across the state during the recruitment process in 2016. As per reports, around 23 lakh candidates appeared in the process for filling over 24,000 vacancies in the state-aided schools. According to reports, over 25,000 appointments were made by the state government.
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