West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has vehemently criticized the Calcutta High Court’s decision to declare null and void the entire panel of the 2016 School Service Commission teachers’ recruitment. This decision has resulted in the cancellation of all appointments of teachers and non-teaching staff.
Banerjee has launched a scathing attack on the opposition, declaring that she will not receive a single vote from teachers or any government worker for the BJP, CPM, or Congress. She has further accused the BJP of buying the court, CBI, NIA, BSF, and CAPF.
The Bengal government has appealed the Calcutta High Court’s decision to the Supreme Court, expressing hope for justice. Banerjee has alleged that the BJP has bought the High Court and has urged people to boycott Doordarshan, accusing it of promoting the BJP’s agenda.
Earlier, Banerjee had referred to the Calcutta High Court as a ‘tirthakendra’ (pilgrimage site) for the BJP. She has claimed that her government is unable to provide jobs to the state’s youth due to court orders.
On April 22, the Calcutta High Court instructed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct additional investigations into irregularities related to the 2016 selection process. The court annulled the appointments of all teaching and non-teaching staff hired in 2016 and ordered those appointed illegally to return their salaries within six weeks.
Additionally, the high court decided to terminate the employment of 36,000 teaching and non-teaching staff members due to irregularities. The high court also directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the CBI to submit updated reports on their ongoing investigation into a purported primary school jobs scam in West Bengal.
