SC cancels 25,000 Bengal teacher appointments upholding Calcutta HC's verdict

In a major setback for the Mamata Banerjee government, the Supreme Court today upheld the Calcutta High Court’s decision to cancel the appointment of over 25,000 teachers and non-teaching staff in West Bengal. The ruling impacts those recruited through the West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) for state-run and state-aided schools.

The Supreme Court had reserved its judgment on February 10 after hearing multiple petitions against the Calcutta HC’s April 22, 2024 ruling. A bench led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar stated that all arguments were heard before finalizing the verdict.

The apex court examined 124 petitions, including one filed by the West Bengal government challenging the High Court's verdict. Several top legal minds, including Mukul Rohatgi, Abhishek Singhvi, Dushyant Dave, and Prashant Bhushan, represented both sides in the legal battle.

The Calcutta High Court had found severe irregularities in the recruitment process, including OMR sheet tampering and rank-jumping, which led to the cancellation of 25,753 teacher and staff appointments. The court had determined that the process was compromised and unfair, requiring intervention.

The CBI was already investigating the case, and on May 7, 2024, the Supreme Court had temporarily stayed the Calcutta HC order while allowing the investigation to continue. However, today’s final verdict reinstates the cancellation, leaving thousands of appointees in uncertainty.