On Thursday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee condemned the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Calcutta High Court’s ruling that annulled 25,753 appointments made via the School Service Commission (SSC).
During a press conference, Mamata Banerjee stated that she held the judiciary in high regard but was unable to accept the decision. She mentioned that the decision might disrupt the education system in the state.
“How many more individuals will be targeted? How many individuals will face punishment for the offense of a single person? If given the responsibility, we will look into the issue. The School Service Commission operates independently, and we do not intervene in its operations,” stated Mamata Banerjee.
The Supreme Court upheld the Calcutta High Court’s ruling to terminate the appointments of more than 25,000 teaching and non-teaching personnel by the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) in 2016 due to the cash-for-school jobs scandal. The court described the selection process as “flawed and corrupt”.
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“As a citizen, I express that I cannot back this decision. I hope it is not distorted. The court announces that the selections of these candidates are revoked. However, individuals who are working should not be asked to return any payments received,” Mamata Banerjee stated during a press conference.
Banerjee challenged the complete rejection of all candidates, claiming that not every appointee was to blame for misconduct. “The individuals you refer to as tainted, we lack evidence concerning them. Is the BJP government intent on dismantling Bengal’s education system? What took place in Vyapam? More than fifty individuals lost their lives,” she stated, likening it to the recruitment scam in Madhya Pradesh.
Citing the Supreme Court’s order, Banerjee mentioned that unblemished candidates could reapply. “Order specifies that candidates who are unblemished may participate in the new selection procedure. We will acknowledge the decision, and we will finish the procedure in three months. The SSC operates independently, yet we will guarantee that the process for reappointing teachers is finished,” she stated.
She further condemned the BJP and CPI(M)’s involvement, claiming that political intentions underpinned the order. “The BJP MP who issued the initial directive in Calcutta High Court is now a judge. I understand that this was carried out by BJP and CPI(M). They will receive a response shortly,” she remarked.
Expressing worries about the emotional effects of the verdict on those impacted, Banerjee encouraged them to maintain their hope. “I am learning that some are feeling depressed.” If anything occurs to them, who will take responsibility? Our attorneys will examine this order,” she stated.
