The Supreme Court upheld the Calcutta High Court’s decision to dismiss nearly 26,000 teachers and non-teaching staff over recruitment irregularities, intensifying political tensions in West Bengal. Opposition parties, including the BJP and CPI(M), held the Trinamool Congress (TMC) responsible for the controversy.
Reacting to the verdict, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee questioned the ruling, suggesting political motives behind it. She cited contradictions in past judgments and vowed to file a review petition. Banerjee reassured affected teachers of government support, promising a meeting on April 7 to address their concerns. “We stand with them, even if it means facing jail,” she declared.
Criticizing the mass dismissals, she argued that not all recruits were guilty, questioning the fairness of a sweeping judgment. Drawing parallels to the Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh, she accused the BJP of targeting Bengal’s education system. She emphasized that eligible candidates could reapply and pledged to oversee a transparent reappointment process within three months.
The BJP blamed Banerjee’s leadership for the scandal, with state president Sukanta Majumder demanding her resignation. CPI(M) leaders echoed similar sentiments, accusing the TMC of failing to differentiate between genuine candidates and those who secured jobs through bribes.
The controversy dates back to a 2022 CBI probe into the 2016 recruitment scam, which led to multiple arrests, including former Education Minister Partha Chatterjee. The legal and political battle over the issue continues, with scrutiny on how the TMC government will handle the reappointment process.
