NI Bureau
Mamata Banerjee Government suffers major blow as recruitment announced fraudulent by Supreme Court
Imposing a substantial blow to the West Bengal government run by Mamata Banerjee, the Supreme Court has upheld the Calcutta High Court’s ruling invalidating the appointment of over 25,000 teachers and non-teaching staff falling under the West Bengal School Service Commission. The apex court said the entire selection process “vitiated by manipulation and fraud,” in itself, renders the appointments illegitimate.
In its decision, a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice PV Sanjay Kumar ruled that the recruitment process was fraudulent and saw no reason to disturb the Calcutta High Court’s order. The judgment has thus intensified political turmoil in the state, as the ruling Trinamool Congress has come of late under increasing criticism due to corruption allegations in teacher recruitment.
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Fresh recruitment to be done in three months
The state government of West Bengal is directed by the Supreme Court to hold a fresh selection process within three months. Those who qualify through this new selection process need not return the salary drawn after their appointment in 2016. All the rest, who do not clear the new process, will be required to refund the salary amounts received by them over the years. Moreover, the court has given exemptions for persons with disabilities, which will allow them to continue serving in the present positions.
Against such a verdict of the Calcutta High Court, the Mamata Banerjee government appealed, and in their plea, they contended that some candidates are good while some others are tainted. The Supreme Court dismissed that argument and upheld the annulment of all the controversial appointments.
The frauds of controversial supernumerary posts
The controversy arises from supernumerary posts created by the state government. In 2016, out of more than 23 lakh candidates, 24,640 vacancies were to be filled through a state-level selection test. However, letters of appointment were issued to 25,753 individuals. This discrepancy brought allegations of illegal recruitment practices coupled with assertions of unqualified candidates having been fraudulently appointed.
The scandal has severely tarnished the Mamata Banerjee government. These include arrests of very high officials and party leaders over the issue, including the former education minister, Partha Chatterjee. Close to Mamata Banerjee, the leader was found flaunting cash and implicating himself in corruption.
Political repercussions and opponent reactions
After the SC verdict, BJP’s senior leader Amit Malviya described it as a “crushing defeat” for Mamata Banerjee’s government. He further said that the names of high-ranking TMC leaders were involved in the scam and demanded accountability at bigger levels.
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“Mamata Banerjee’s close confidante, Partha Chatterjee—who was the education minister and was caught red-handed with lots of currency notes—is already in jail for his part in the scam. The same applies for the Chief Minister, under whose watch this huge fraud ruined the careers of thousands of youths, whose accountability and trial she must face,” he said.
However, after the Supreme Court’s decision, West Bengal’s government is now faced with the onerous task of having to conduct a recruitment process, in all fairness and transparency, within the stipulated time. The apex court ruling has not only put a shadow on the snooze in the state but also inflamed the political war between the ruling TMC and the opposition. The coming months will be crucial as the government scrambles to rectify the crisis and restore faith in the recruitment system.
