SC Upholds Calcutta HC Orders on Misconduct of WB Teacher Recruitment 2016

The Supreme Court of India has upheld the Calcutta High Court’s decision to cancel the appointments of more than 25,000 teachers and non-teaching staff recruited through the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) in 2016. The apex court found that the entire recruitment process was marred by fraud and manipulation, leading to its annulment. This decision marks a major setback for the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government, which had sought to overturn the High Court’s ruling.

SC Upholds Calcutta HC Orders on Misconduct of WB Teacher Recruitment 2016

The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice PV Sanjay Kumar, found that large-scale irregularities had tainted the recruitment process. The court ruled that the selection process lacked credibility and legitimacy, making the appointments unsustainable. It emphasized that fraudulent means were employed to manipulate the recruitment process, thus violating constitutional principles of fairness and equality.

Despite the state government’s plea to segregate tainted and untainted candidates, the Supreme Court dismissed this argument, ruling that all appointments made through the process must be terminated. The court stated that even those who were not directly implicated in fraudulent activities could not retain their jobs since the entire recruitment exercise was compromised.

Why Did SC Nullify WB Teacher Recruitment Process 2016?

The case stemmed from the recruitment process conducted through the State Level Selection Test (SLST)-2016. Over 23 lakh candidates had applied for 24,640 vacancies, yet an excess of 25,753 appointment letters were issued. Investigations uncovered widespread malpractice, including manipulation of OMR sheets and rank-jumping.

The Calcutta High Court had previously ruled that the selection process violated Articles 14 and 16 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantee equality in public employment. The Supreme Court upheld this verdict, citing clear evidence of manipulation and fraudulent practices in the recruitment process.

SC Orders Fresh WB Teacher Recruitment Soon

The Supreme Court has directed the West Bengal government to conduct a fresh recruitment process within three months. Hence, candidates can expect a fresh notification for the West Bengal Teacher Recruitment 2025 soon The SC clarified that candidates who successfully qualify in the new selection process will not be required to return the salaries drawn since their 2016 appointments. However, those who fail to clear the fresh selection will have to refund the salaries they received.

Additionally, the court provided special relief for persons with disabilities, allowing them to retain their current appointments. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been tasked with continuing its probe into the fraudulent recruitment process.

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