In a significant development related to the West Bengal teacher recruitment scam, the Supreme Court on Monday granted the state government major relief. The court quashed a Calcutta High Court order that mandated a CBI investigation into the supernumerary posts created by the state government to accommodate tainted candidates.
Kolkata: The Supreme Court's decision in the West Bengal teacher recruitment scam case has come as a significant relief for the Mamata Banerjee government. The Supreme Court dismissed the Calcutta High Court's order directing the state government to increase the number of additional posts in the teacher recruitment process. This decision is considered crucial for the Mamata government, as it temporarily avoids additional accountability regarding the recruitment process.
It is noteworthy that the case arose from irregularities in the appointment process of 25,753 teachers and other staff in the state, which is currently under CBI investigation.
Supreme Court Stays High Court Order
The Calcutta High Court had earlier directed that the creation of additional posts by the government was suspicious and should therefore be investigated by the CBI. However, the Supreme Court deemed this order "inappropriate in its limited scope" and stated that ordering an investigation into the creation of additional posts was not justified at this stage.
The apex court also clarified that this decision pertains only to the additional posts and not to the CBI investigation into the entire teacher recruitment scam. The Supreme Court explicitly stated that "this decision will not affect the ongoing CBI investigation, the filing of chargesheets, or other legal proceedings."
Timeline of Events
- In 2016, the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) appointed 25,753 teachers and staff.
- This recruitment process later became embroiled in controversy due to allegations of corruption and irregularities.
- The Calcutta High Court declared it flawed, nullifying all appointments and ordering a CBI investigation.
- The state government created additional posts to accommodate the tainted appointments, which the High Court deemed suspicious and ordered an investigation into as well.
Why is this a Relief for the Mamata Government?
The state government argued that the creation of additional posts was an administrative decision that should not be subjected to investigation. The Supreme Court agreed, overturning the High Court's order, which provides partial relief to the Mamata Banerjee government.
