Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government, on Wednesday, moved the Supreme Court, challenging the Calcutta High Court order cancelling almost 24,000 appointments of teaching and non-teaching staff made through the 2016 SSC recruitment process.
On Monday (April 22), the High Court had invalidated the recruitment through the State Level Selection Test-2016 (SLST) in government-funded and supported schools in West Bengal.
Reacting to the HC’s verdict, Banerjee said: “The court verdict cancelling all recruitments is illegal. We stand by those who lost jobs. We will ensure you get justice, and challenge the order in a higher court.”
What Bengal govt told SC?
The West Bengal government has argued that instead of segregating the valid appointments from the “invalid ones” the Calcutta High Court has “erroneously” set aside the 2016 selection process entirely.
It has also been averred that this will affect around 23,000 teaching and non-teaching staff in the State.
The State government further told the apex court that the High Court “solely relied upon the oral arguments without the support of affidavits.”
Based on this, the State has put forth its contention that the High Court has proceeded in a cursory manner. Further, it has been argued that the High Court has acted in utter disregard of the fact that the same will result in a huge vacuum in the State Schools unless a new selection process is completed.
The West Bengal government further claimed that this will adversely impact the students given that the new academic session is approaching.
The State has also questioned the High Court’s order to conduct a new selection process for declared vacancies within two weeks of the Lok Sabha polls 2024 results without acknowledging the understaffing issue in schools.
The 2016 school recruitment incident came under the scanner due to the infamous cash-for-jobs recruitment scam.
Calcutta HC cancels nearly 26,000 appointments in Bengal schools
On April 22, the Calcutta High Court cancelled all appointments made through in 2016 recruitment process for govt-sponsored and aided schools.
With the court’s decision, 25,753 teachers and non-teaching staff, appointed through the SSC recruitment process are set to lose their job and they have been asked to return their salaries along with 12 per cent interest within six weeks.
The court has ordered the School Service Commission (SSC) to conduct fresh recruitments.
Terming the selection process “null and void”, the High Court also directed CBI to probe the appointment process and submit a report in three months.
The recruitment exam was conducted to fill vacancies for the posts of assistant teachers for Classes 9-10, assistant teachers for Classes 11-12, Group C (clerks) and Group D posts.
With inputs from agencies
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Mamata Banerjee-led Bengal govt moves SC after 26,000 teachers lose jobs following HC order
