Setback for Mamata Govt.. Calcutta HC cancels 25,753 school job appointments made in West Bengal
| Date :23-Apr-2024 |
KOLKATA,
THE Calcutta High Court on Monday ordered cancellation of all appointments made through the recruitment process of State Level Selection Test-2016 (SLST) in West Bengal Government-sponsored and aided schools, declaring it as “null and void”. The court directed that a section of those recruits will have to return salaries drawn by them along with 12 per cent per annum interest. Over 23 lakh candidates had appeared for the SLST-2016 for 24,640 vacant posts. A division bench comprising justices Debangsu Basak and Md Shabbar Rashidi also directed the CBI to undertake further investigation in respect of the appointment process, and submit a report in three months. The bench also asked the West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) to initiate a fresh appointment process. A total of 25,753 appointment letters were issued against 24,640 vacancies, said Firdaus Shamim, a lawyer for some of the petitioners who alleged irregularities in the selection process.
The court directed that the persons who had been appointed outside the panel after its expiry and also those who submitted blank OMR sheets but obtained appointments, must return all remunerations and benefits received by them to the State exchequer along with 12 per cent per annum interest from the date of receipt till deposit, within a period of four weeks from date. The division bench also rejected a prayer by some appellants, including the SSC, for a stay on the order. Stating that it has given anxious consideration to the passionate plea that persons who had obtained the appointments legally would be prejudiced if the entire selection process is cancelled, the bench said it hardly had any choice left. The bench, formed by the Chief Justice of the High Court on a direction of the Supreme Court, had heard 350 petitions and appeals relating to the selection of candidates for appointment by the SSC in the categories of teachers of classes 9, 10, 11 and 12 and group-C and D staffers through the SLST-2016. It concluded the hearing in the matters on March 20 and reserved the judgement.
Holding that all appointments granted in the selection processes involved were violative of Articles 14 (equality before the law) and 16 (prohibiting discrimination in employment in any Government office) of the Constitution, the court declared those as “null and void and cancelled.” The bench directed that the CBI will hold further investigations with regard to the “persons involved, in the State Government approving creation of supernumerary posts to accommodate illegal appointments” and custodial interrogation will be done if required. The bench said that a CBI probe with regard to the creation of supernumerary posts is imperative to bring to light the nature and extent of the scam and persons involved. Will challenge HC order: SSC chief: WEST Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) Chairman Siddharth Majumder on Monday said it will challenge the Calcutta High Court order cancelling all appointments made through a 2016 teacher recruitment test.