Big relief to Mamata govt: Supreme Court stays HC order for CBI probe into Bengal teachers recruitment case

Last week, the Supreme Court cancelled more than 25,000 appointments made in 2016

The Supreme Court on Tuesday set aside the Calcutta High Court’s order directing a CBI investigation into the West Bengal government’s decision to create supernumerary posts in the West Bengal School Service Commission teachers’ appointments.

The top court, however, made it clear the CBI probe as directed by the Calcutta High Court into other aspects related to the appointment of 25,753 teachers and staffers in West Bengal's state-run and aided school would continue.

“Having regard to aforesaid discussion we are of the view that the Calcutta high court was not justified in referring the issue of creation of supernumerary posts to CBI pursuant to the cabinet decision,” said the Chief Justice of India Sanjeev Khanna as quoted by The Telegraph.

Last week, the Supreme Court cancelled more than 25,000 appointments made in 2016. The state government had challenged the decision in the apex court.

On Monday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee vowed to protect the jobs of "deserving" teachers whose appointment was cancelled by a Supreme Court order. She also cited the example of the all-India medical entrance exam NEET and said the top court did not cancel the whole examination in that case.

"The Supreme Court must clarify who is deserving and who is not. Give us the list. No one has the right to break the education system. In the Vyapam case in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh, so many people were killed. They have not got justice till today. In NEET, many allegations surfaced. The Supreme Court did not cancel the examination. Why is Bengal being targeted? We want to know. You are scared of Bengal's talent," she told a gathering of sacked teachers at Kolkata's Netaji Indoor Stadium.

The BJP had demanded Mamata and the cabinet ministers of Bengal should be arrested for creating extra posts. They also sought the CM's resignation.

The state had created supernumerary in state-run and state-aided schools. More than 23 lakh candidates had appeared for the state-level selection test in 2016. The number of vacant posts was 24,640, but 25,753 appointment letters were issued. It was alleged that these supernumeric posts provided room for illegal recruitment.

Irregularities in the teachers' recruitment had spelled trouble for the Mamata Banerjee-led state government. Several of top Trinamool leaders, including former education minister Partha Chatterjee, are in jail in connection with the case.