Relief for West Bengal Govt, SC Stays CBI Probe in Teachers Recruitment Scam

The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the Calcutta High Court order directing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate the involvement of West Bengal government officials in a teacher recruitment scam.

West Bengal Government

The apex court was hearing a plea by the West Bengal government challenging the high court’s decision to annul the appointment of 25,753 teachers and non-teaching staff hired by the School Service Commission (SSC) for state-run and state-aided schools.

The Bench

A bench comprising CJI DY Chandrachud along with Justices JB Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Misra, scheduled a hearing for May 6.

“We will stay the direction which says the CBI will undertake further investigation against officials in the state government,” remarked the bench.

Calcutta High Court

The Calcutta High Court had ordered the CBI to conduct additional investigations into the individuals involved in the state government’s approval of creating supernumerary posts to accommodate illegal appointments.

It also stated that if necessary, the CBI would conduct custodial interrogation of such individuals. In its appeal to the Supreme Court, the state government challenged the high court’s decision, arguing that the cancellations were made “arbitrarily.” The plea highlighted that the high court failed to understand the consequences of canceling the entire selection process, resulting in the immediate termination of teaching and non-teaching staff without adequate time for the state to address the situation, thus disrupting the education system.

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