The Calcutta High Court Friday cancelled the appointment of 36,000 teachers who cleared the state’s teacher eligibility test in 2014 and were recruited in 2016. 

A single judge bench of Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay issued strict instructions to the West Bengal Board of Primary Education to make sure new teachers are appointed to the vacant posts within three months. 

A total of 42,500 candidates had been recruited as primary teachers in 2016. However, a series of petitions were filed in the High Court alleging anomalies in the recruitment process. The petitioners alleged that many examinees who got less marks ranked high on the merit list. There were also allegations that some applicants, who weren’t even on the merit list, received appointment letters. 

Allegations also emerged that the proper interview process was not followed, and many, in fact, got selected without an interview. 

Following the HC order, the Chairman of the Primary Education Board, Goutam Paul, said, “We are talking with legal experts. We can only say that the Board will take proper steps at the proper time.” 

“As per directions of the High Court, we submitted the affidavit and all documents regarding interviews and aptitude tests. We will challenge this order before an appellate court or division bench of the High Court; all that will be decided after consulting with legal experts,” he said. 

In August 2022, the Enforcement Directorate and Central Bureau of Investigation arrested former Education Minister of the Trinamool Congress government, Partha Chatterjee, and his aide Arpita Mukherjee in connection with the alleged scam. On October 11, TMC MLA Manik Bhattacharya was arrested. 

Bhattacharya was the chairman of the Board of Primary Education in 2016. Taking note of this, Justice Gangopadhyay ordered that if the state government wants, it can charge Bhattacharya for expenses incurred for the entire process. He also ordered that the 36,000 teachers will continue to work for the next four months but will get a salary equivalent to para-teachers. The court also said that those whose jobs have been cancelled can participate in the new recruitment process if they qualify. 

Following the court order, BJP state president Sukanta Majumder said, “This government is completely corrupt, that’s been proved now. The government should take responsibility for these scams.” 

CPIM leader Shatarup Ghosh said, “How much corruption took place, one can only imagine – 36,000 candidates got a job without a proper interview, proper aptitude test and proper qualification.” 

Image Source: OPIndia