The Calcutta High Court on Friday granted bail to former West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee in the ongoing teacher recruitment irregularities case.
The ruling marks a major development in a case that has remained under public and judicial scrutiny for over two years.
Strict Bail Conditions Imposed
The order was passed by Justice Suvra Ghosh, who allowed Chatterjee’s release but with multiple restrictions. The court directed him to surrender his passport and prohibited him from leaving the jurisdiction of the trial court.
Furthermore, as a sitting Trinamool Congress MLA, Chatterjee has been barred from holding any public office until the trial concludes.
Allegations Against Chatterjee
Chatterjee, a former state education minister, is accused of being part of a racket that enabled illegal appointments of unqualified candidates as primary school teachers, assistant teachers, and other staff in the state’s education department.
The controversy arose after unsuccessful candidates of the Teachers’ Eligibility Test (TET), conducted by the West Bengal Board of Primary Education, approached the Calcutta High Court. They alleged large-scale irregularities in the recruitment process, sparking demands for judicial intervention.
CBI & ED Investigations
Acting on the petitions, the High Court on 8 June 2022 ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe the allegations. A day later, on 9 June 2022, the CBI registered an FIR to investigate the recruitment scam. Soon after, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched its own investigation on 24 June 2022, focusing on the financial trail and possible money laundering linked to the appointments.
Both agencies have since targeted several officials of the education department suspected of involvement in the scam.
Public & Political Significance
The case has generated widespread debate over transparency and fairness in public sector recruitment. With Chatterjee being a senior politician and a close aide of the ruling party, his bail is expected to draw intense media attention and public reaction.
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