(Image source from: Twitter.com/AITCofficial)
The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a petition from the West Bengal government that aimed to review its decision made on April 7 regarding the alleged cash-for-jobs scandal connected to the state's School Service Commission. The court had supported a ruling from the Calcutta High Court that canceled the appointments of more than 25,000 employees, both teachers and non-teachers, due to the discovery of a dishonest process. This situation is a significant blow to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, especially since the BJP plans to use this issue to criticize the Trinamool ahead of next year's elections. The Supreme Court also strongly criticized the West Bengal government, stating, "The negative comments directed at the responsible officials, who played a major role in this mess affecting the lives of many candidates, both guilty and innocent, were completely justified," the court expressed this afternoon.
The court recognized that the cancellation of legitimate appointments would understandably cause distress, but emphasized that maintaining the integrity of the selection process must take precedence and be prioritized above all else. Previously, the High Court had annulled the selection process from 2016, resulting in the termination of 25,753 individuals who had been improperly hired, according to the court, and they were ordered to pay back their salaries with an interest of 12 percent. A year later, the Supreme Court affirmed that decision, stating the entire selection process had been "tainted by manipulation and fraud." This cancellation triggered a significant political conflict in Bengal, with Ms. Banerjee's Trinamool Congress and the opposition party, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party, in fierce disagreement.
Amid mounting criticism and with a crucial Assembly election approaching next year, Ms. Banerjee asserted her commitment to safeguarding the positions of deserving teachers and pointed to comparable scandals in states governed by the BJP. "In the Vyapam case in BJP-led Madhya Pradesh, many lives were lost, and justice has yet to be served. There were numerous allegations in NEET as well. The Supreme Court didn’t annul the exam. So why is Bengal being singled out? We want answers. You fear the capabilities of Bengal," she addressed a group of dismissed teachers at Kolkata’s Netaji Indoor Stadium. Following this, disgruntled 'tainted' teachers staged angry protests in Kolkata and confronted police. By the end of May, Ms. Banerjee acknowledged that her government would comply with the court's decision and announced a new round of applications would be opened. She stated that 44,203 vacant positions would be filled and that age limits for applicants will be eased for those who had previously lost their jobs. Nonetheless, many of those individuals voiced their objections to having to retake the qualifying exams. "We refuse to participate in a new exam. Our demands are clear."
