SC halts HC's decision to cancel jobs of 32,000 primary teachers in WB SSC scam

In a significant development, the Supreme Court has stayed the order issued by Calcutta High Court Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay to cancel the appointments of 32,000 primary teachers implicated in the West Bengal SSC (School Service Commission) scam.

However, the Supreme Court has indicated that the matter will be reevaluated by the High Court. The decision came during a hearing on Friday before a division bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justice JK Maheshwari and Justice KV Vishwanathan.

The High Court's decision was subsequently challenged by the affected primary teachers before a division bench of the Calcutta High Court, presided over by Justice Subrata Talukdar and Justice Supratim Bhattacharya. The bench modified the initial order issued by the single bench hearing the case.

Following the modification, a group of primary teachers and board officials approached the Supreme Court against the High Court's ruling. The case was heard by a division bench of the apex court led by Justice JK Maheshwari and Justice KV Vishwanathan.

In their recent ruling, the Supreme Court has rejected the High Court's order, but it has directed that the matter be reconsidered by a fresh bench of the High Court comprising Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Supratim Bhattacharya. This division bench will reassess the case and deliver a new judgment.

The Supreme Court's decision brings relief to the 32,000 primary teachers whose jobs were at risk of being canceled.

Notably, the recruitment scam had prompted investigations by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), leading to the arrests of former state minister Partha Chatterjee, officer Manik Bhattacharya, several leaders from the Trinamool Congress (TMC), and former education department officials.