The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered a stay on an order by the Calcutta High Court cancelling the appointment of over 25,000 teachers and non-teaching staff in West Bengal. The top court also said that the Central Bureau of Investigation will continue to look into the matter but restricted it from taking any coercive action against any candidate or official.
The appointments were cancelled by the Calcutta HC on grounds of large-scale irregularities in the recruitment process. Several leaders of the Trinamool Congress, including former minister Parhta Chatterjee, are among those currently in jail in connection with the alleged recruitment scam.
In its order, the High Court had asked the teachers to return their salaries with 12 per cent interest and also asked the School Service Commission to initiate the appointment process afresh. The bench was set up on the directions of the Supreme Court.
The move had generated immense public anger and the order was challenged by the Trinamool Congress in the apex court. During the hearing today, the SUpreme Court observed that the irregularities signalled a “systemic fraud”.
“Nothing remains if the faith of the public goes… What remains in the system if their appointments are also maligned? People will lose faith, how do you countenance this?” asked Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, who was leading the three-judge bench.
(With agencies)