In a major development related to the West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) recruitment scam, the Supreme Court has allowed certain teachers, whose appointments were not marred by irregularities, to continue working until a fresh selection process is conducted.
The court emphasized that this relief would apply strictly to those whose appointments were “untainted.”
Court Denies Relief To Groups C & D Staff
A bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna made it clear that the exemption does not extend to all affected employees.
The court declined to grant similar relief to teaching staff in Groups C & D, pointing out that a significant number of “tainted” candidates were found in those categories. The judgment marks a clear distinction between those whose appointments were legitimate and those who benefitted from irregular practices.
West Bengal Directed To Restart Recruitment By May 31
In addition to clarifying who could continue in their posts, the Supreme Court directed the West Bengal government and the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) to begin a new round of recruitment for assistant teachers. The state has been given a deadline of May 31 to issue fresh advertisements and is expected to complete the recruitment process by December 31.
The court stated that this timeline was crucial to ensure that students do not suffer due to the disruptions caused by the flawed recruitment process uncovered in 2016.
Protests Erupt Across West Bengal
The Supreme Court’s decision comes amid rising protests from thousands of teachers who have lost their jobs. On April 11, several SSC teachers staged a dharna outside the SSC office in Kolkata, expressing anger and disappointment with the state government led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
The ruling affects nearly 26,000 teachers, whose appointments were canceled after both the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court found widespread irregularities in the 2016 recruitment process conducted by the SSC.
“Conspiracy” Against The Education System
On April 7, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met with a group of affected teachers and criticized the court’s decision. She claimed there is a “conspiracy” aimed at dismantling the state’s education framework. Banerjee assured the protesting teachers that she would continue to fight for them. “As long as I am alive, I will not let any deserving person lose their job,” she said.
The controversy continues to stir strong political and public reactions across the state, as the future of thousands of teachers and students hangs in the balance.
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