Arup Roy blames CPI(M) for 26,000 job losses after SC upholds SSC panel cancellation | Watch

West Bengal Minister Arup Roy has held CPI(M) responsible for the cancellation of nearly 26,000 school jobs following the Supreme Court's verdict. Speaking during a rally on Saturday, Roy said, “CPI(M) has no work. They only try to get appointed candidates dismissed from their jobs. Many qualified and meritorious individuals have lost their jobs because of this.” He also criticized CPI(M) leader and advocate Bikash Bhattacharya, stating, “Bikashbabu has no work. That’s why he spends the whole day working on getting jobs cancelled.”

The Supreme Court upheld the Calcutta High Court’s ruling which declared the 2016 SSC recruitment process illegal. The court ordered the cancellation of the entire panel, resulting in the termination of 25,753 teachers and non-teaching staff. The judgment also directed the recovery of salaries paid and mandated fresh examinations under specific conditions. The case stems from allegations of large-scale corruption in the recruitment process conducted by the West Bengal School Service Commission.

The state government had approached the Supreme Court challenging the Calcutta High Court’s decision. Separate petitions were also filed by the state’s education department, the SSC, and the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education. Affected candidates filed multiple petitions seeking relief. The Supreme Court had earlier issued an interim stay on the dismissal but delivered its final verdict on Thursday, upholding the High Court's order in full.