Supreme Court Rejects Bengal’s Review Plea on 24,000 School Job Cancellations

Swift Summary

• Supreme Court Decision: The Supreme Court of India dismissed review petitions by the West Bengal government regarding it’s April 3, 2025 judgment invalidating nearly 24,000 teacher and non-teaching staff appointments in government-aided schools across the state.
• Reason for Cancellation: Irregularities in the recruitment conducted by the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) in 2016 were linked to a cash-for-jobs scam. Multiple fraud-related issues, including tampered OMR sheets and selection of ineligible candidates, led to annulment.
• Judicial Observations: Lack of original OMR sheets exacerbated verification difficulties; irregularities compromised integrity; preserving sanctity over individual grievances was prioritized.
• Arguments Rejected: Review pleas from WBSSC and the State government seeking reconsideration on merit were denied as they echoed points already examined comprehensively by previous court rulings.
• Impact on Staff: Appointments for assistant teachers (classes IX-XII) and Groups C/D staff stand nullified. Consequences recognized as distressing but deemed necessary to uphold equal opportunities in public employment under Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution.
• Prior Context: Earlier investigations revealed that while WBSSC recommended around 22,930 candidates, over 25,735 appointment letters were issued unlawfully. Some exceptions have been acknowledged – candidates exonerated by CBI can serve temporarily until December 31, 2025.

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