WB Govt issues notification to pay monthly allowance to sacked WBSSC staff amid Court scrutiny

The West Bengal government has announced a financial relief scheme for Group-C and Group-D non-teaching staff dismissed following a Supreme Court ruling that upheld the cancellation of 25,753 appointments made through the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC). As per the Labour Department's notification issued on May 24, the eligible dismissed staff will receive a monthly allowance under a newly launched interim plan.

Named the ‘West Bengal Livelihood and Special Protection Interim Scheme’, the proposal was approved by the state cabinet on May 14. The Labour Department has stated that under this scheme, Group-C personnel will be provided ₹25,000 per month, while Group-D personnel will receive ₹20,000 per month. The disbursement will be applicable from April 1, 2025, and will continue until legal proceedings are fully resolved.

The Supreme Court on April 3 upheld the Calcutta High Court’s decision to cancel 25,753 WBSSC recruitments, citing the inability of the state and commission to differentiate between guilty and innocent candidates in the tainted recruitment process. The appointments were declared void due to irregularities and procedural violations during the recruitment.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier stated that the scheme would be handled by the Labour Department to ensure it remained within administrative jurisdiction and to respond to the concerns raised by jobless employees after the court verdict. The scheme aims to provide temporary financial support without reinstating employment status.

Meanwhile, the Calcutta High Court has admitted a petition challenging the legality of the announced scheme. A single bench of Justice Amrita Sinha is hearing the matter. The petition terms the allowance payments as unlawful. In parallel, the state government and WBSSC have submitted a review petition before the Supreme Court, seeking a reconsideration of the cancellation order.