Trinamool suffers setback as 25,000 Bengal teachers dismissed.
The Calcutta High Court ruled that school teachers in Bengal, who were recruited illegally after submitting blank OMR sheets, must return their salaries within four weeks. This decision, affecting around 25,000 teachers, deals a significant blow to the Trinamool Congress. The ruling underscores the severity of the issue and emphasizes the importance of upholding legal standards in the recruitment process.
The Calcutta High Court’s recent ruling striking down the 2016 recruitment process for government-sponsored and aided schools in Bengal has dealt a significant blow to the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government. With the cancellation of this recruitment process, a staggering 25,753 teachers appointed through it are now facing termination and are required to return the salaries they have received since joining, along with a 12% interest, as per the court’s directive.
This ruling, delivered by a division bench comprising Justices Debangsu Basak and Md Shabbar Rashidi, comes as a major setback to the Trinamool government, highlighting serious irregularities in the recruitment process. The court specifically noted that teachers recruited unlawfully after submitting blank Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) sheets must reimburse their salaries within four weeks, with district magistrates assigned the responsibility of collecting these funds.
Amidst the stringent directive, the court displayed compassion by exempting one appointee, Soma Das, from the termination order due to her ongoing battle with cancer, demonstrating humanitarian considerations amidst the legal proceedings.
Furthermore, the court’s mandate extends beyond the immediate ramifications of the ruling. In compliance with a directive from the Supreme Court, the bench has tasked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) with conducting a thorough investigation into the appointment process, with a requirement to submit a detailed report within three months. Additionally, the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) has been instructed to initiate a fresh appointment process, signaling a systemic overhaul in response to the detected irregularities.
The state government, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, is anticipated to challenge the court’s decision in the Supreme Court, setting the stage for further legal battles and political maneuvering. The fallout from this ruling has already reverberated within the political landscape, with several prominent Trinamool leaders, including former education minister Partha Chatterjee, and former officials facing incarceration in connection with the teacher recruitment scandal.
The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Bengal wasted no time in seizing upon the court’s decision to launch a scathing attack on the Trinamool government. BJP leaders have accused Mamata Banerjee and her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, who holds a prominent position within the party, of presiding over a system rife with corruption and irregularities. They argue that this ruling signifies a significant dent in the credibility and governance record of the ruling Trinamool regime, positioning the BJP as a viable alternative in the upcoming political landscape.
As the legal battle unfolds and political ramifications reverberate, the fate of thousands of affected teachers hangs in the balance, underscoring the intersection of legal, political, and humanitarian considerations in this complex saga of governance and accountability.
The recent ruling by the Calcutta High Court to cancel approximately 24,000 State Level Selection Test-2016 (SLST-2016) recruitments has sent shockwaves through West Bengal’s political landscape. With the court’s decision, the spotlight has intensified on the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government, raising serious questions about the integrity of the recruitment process.
According to reports, over 23 lakh candidates had appeared for the SLST-2016 to compete for 24,640 vacant positions. However, a staggering 25,753 appointment letters were issued, indicating irregularities and discrepancies in the selection process. This revelation has sparked outrage and condemnation from various quarters, particularly the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Bengal.
The BJP has seized upon this opportunity to launch a scathing attack on the TMC, accusing them of corruption and nepotism. BJP Bengal asserted that the cancellation of these recruitments signifies a triumph for justice and accountability, claiming that the ruling TMC leadership, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee, will face defeat in the upcoming elections.
The legal saga surrounding the SLST-2016 recruitments has been riddled with controversy and intrigue. Last year, the Calcutta High Court dismissed panels established by the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) in 2016 and revoked the appointment of 36,000 untrained primary teachers, later modified to 32,000. The court’s intervention underscores the gravity of the situation and the need for a thorough investigation into the alleged malpractices.
Adding to the complexity of the issue, the presiding judge, Abhijit Ganguly, who had also ordered a CBI probe into the matter, resigned amidst tensions with the ruling Trinamool Congress. Ganguly’s subsequent entry into politics as a BJP candidate in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections has further intensified the political ramifications of the case.
In a curious turn of events, shortly after the initial judgment, another single-judge bench suspended the ruling pending further orders, injecting uncertainty into the legal proceedings and leaving the fate of the affected candidates in limbo.
As the legal battle unfolds and political tensions escalate, the SLST-2016 recruitment scandal continues to reverberate throughout West Bengal, underscoring the deep-rooted issues of corruption and governance challenges facing the state. The outcome of this case is poised to have far-reaching implications for the political landscape of West Bengal and the credibility of its governing institutions.
In November last year, the Supreme Court directed the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court to establish a division bench to adjudicate on petitions and appeals related to the recruitment case. Additionally, the court granted six-month protection to individuals whose appointments were invalidated, providing temporary relief amidst the ongoing legal proceedings.