The Supreme Court intervened in the controversy surrounding the cancellation of 25,753 teacher and non-teaching staff appointments in West Bengal’s government-aided schools. While allowing the CBI to proceed with its investigation into the alleged scam, the Court directed the agency not to take coercive actions against candidates or government officials involved.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, along with Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, stayed the Calcutta High Court’s April 22 order, which had annulled the appointments. The Court emphasized the need for an expedited hearing and scheduled the matter for July 16.

The petitions challenging the High Court’s decision raised concerns about the arbitrary nature of the cancellations, as asserted by the Mamata Banerjee-led government. Describing the recruitment case as a “systemic fraud,” the Supreme Court deemed it imprudent to nullify all appointments outright.

Instead, the Court proposed segregating valid and invalid recruitments, entrusting the Bengal government with determining the appropriate modalities. It clarified that only candidates with invalid appointments would be required to refund their salaries, contrary to the High Court’s directive for all 25,000 employees.

The Supreme Court underscored the continuation of the CBI investigation, particularly into appointments made without proper scrutiny. However, it instructed the agency to refrain from coercive actions against individuals or government officials during the probe.

In response to the verdict, Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee hailed the Supreme Court’s decision as a victory for truth. He asserted the party’s commitment to defending Bengal’s integrity and vowed to stand resolutely alongside the people.

The Supreme Court’s intervention in the Bengal school jobs controversy reflects a nuanced approach, balancing the imperatives of justice with procedural fairness. As the legal proceedings unfold, stakeholders await further developments in this contentious issue.

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