The Supreme Court on Thursday invalidated the appointment of 25,753 teachers and other staff in state-run and state-aided schools in West Bengal, terming their selection process "vitiated and tainted".
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar upheld a Calcutta High Court verdict dated April 22, 2024, annulling the appointments.
SC Verdict On Annulling Teacher Appointments In West Bengal
Pronouncing the verdict, the CJI said the employees, whose appointments have been annulled, are not needed to return their salaries and other emoluments.
The top court also ordered the state government to initiate a fresh selection process and complete it within three months.
It, however, made relaxation for the disabled employees on humanitarian grounds, saying they would remain in the job.
The bench fixed the West Bengal government's plea challenging the high court direction for a CBI probe for hearing on April 4.
On February 10, the top court reserved its judgement on a batch of petitions in the matter.
CJI Remarks
The CJI said while pronouncing the verdict on as many as 127 petitions pertaining to the Calcutta High Court verdict said, "In our opinion, this is the case where the entire selection process is vitiated and tainted beyond resolution. Manipulations and frauds on a large scale, coupled with attempts to cover-up, have dented the selection process beyond repair."
"The credibility and legitimacy of selection are diluted, and accordingly, we have to keep it (order of the high court) with some modifications," he added.
Chronology Of Events In West Bengal Recruitment Scam Case
2016: West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) initiates recruitment process of State Level Selection Test.<
Apr 22, 2024: Calcutta HC annuls appointment of 25,753 teachers, non-teaching staff in West Bengal government sponsored and aided schools. It declares the selection process as "null and void", orders CBI probe.
Apr 29, 2024: West Bengal moves SC challenging HC order.</p><p> SC stays HC order for CBI probe into recruitment scam. It, however, refuses to stay the HC order cancelling appointments.
May 7: SC stays HC order invalidating appointments.
Jul 16: SC grants last opportunity to litigants, including West Bengal govt, to file responses.
Dec 19: SC commences final hearing, questions state government as to why it created supernumerary posts instead of weeding out black sheep.
Jan 15, 2025: Some litigants say that annulling all appointments adversely impacted lives and livelihoods of untainted candidates.
Jan 27: Entire selection process vitiated due to malpractice and the state wanted to "protect" the illegal appointments, say few other litigants.
Feb 10: SC reserves verdict on 127 pleas, says those who got jobs “wrongly” could be “knocked out”.
Apr 3: SC annuls appointment of 25,753 teachers and other staff in state-run and state-aided schools, orders fresh selection process.
