The scale of the controversy is immense, with over 23 lakh candidates vying for 24,640 vacancies...
Digital Desk: In a significant blow to the Mamata Banerjee-led government in West Bengal, the Calcutta High Court has nullified the 2016 recruitment process for government-sponsored and aided schools. The court's decision affects a staggering 25,753 appointees who now face the prospect of losing their jobs and being required to reimburse their salaries with a 12% interest rate, as per the order.
The division bench comprising Justices Debangsu Basak and Md Shabbar Rashidi found that the recruitment of school teachers involved irregularities, particularly regarding the submission of blank OMR sheets by candidates. Consequently, the court has mandated that these appointees return their salaries within four weeks, with district magistrates entrusted with the task of recovering the funds.
Amidst this development, a ray of compassion shines through as the court has granted an exception to Soma Das, permitting her to retain her job due to ongoing cancer treatment, highlighting humanitarian considerations amidst the legal complexities.
Furthermore, the bench, formed under the direction of the Supreme Court, has instructed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a deeper probe into the appointment process and furnish a report within three months. Additionally, the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) has been directed to initiate a fresh appointment procedure.
Unsurprisingly, the WBSSC chairman, Siddharth Majumder, has announced intentions to challenge the high court's ruling in the Supreme Court, signaling a legal battle ahead.
The fallout from this ruling extends beyond the judicial realm, with several Trinamool leaders, including former education minister Partha Chatterjee, and former officials already incarcerated in connection with the teacher recruitment scandal.
In response to the court's decision, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has alleged political influence over the judiciary, specifically implicating BJP leaders. She condemned the BJP's apparent foreknowledge of the judgment and accused them of orchestrating a conspiracy to destabilize her government.
Conversely, the BJP in Bengal has seized upon the ruling to castigate the Trinamool administration, predicting electoral defeat for Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee. They see this as an opportunity to galvanize public sentiment against the ruling party.
The scale of the controversy is immense, with over 23 lakh candidates vying for 24,640 vacancies in the State Level Selection Test-2016, a process now marred by allegations of malpractice.
This isn't the first instance of judicial intervention in West Bengal's education sector, as evidenced by the Calcutta High Court's previous dismissal of WBSSC panels and the subsequent cancellation of thousands of untrained primary teacher appointments.
The imbroglio surrounding the teacher recruitment saga has also witnessed judicial personalities navigating treacherous political waters, exemplified by Judge Abhijit Ganguly's resignation and subsequent entry into electoral politics.
With the Supreme Court's intervention providing temporary relief to some affected parties, the saga continues to unfold against the backdrop of a fiercely contested political landscape in West Bengal.
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