Supreme Court Upholds Cancellation of 25,000 Teaching and Non-Teaching Appointments in West Bengal

In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court of India has upheld the Calcutta High Court's decision to annul the recruitment of approximately 25,000 teachers and non-teaching staff in West Bengal's government and government-aided schools. The apex court determined that the entire selection process was "vitiated and tainted" due to extensive manipulations and fraudulent practices.​

Key Highlights:

• Fraudulent Recruitment Process: The Supreme Court concurred with the findings that the recruitment process was compromised by large-scale manipulations, including tampering with Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) sheets and rank alterations.​

• Protection for Previously Employed Candidates: Candidates who were employed in other government departments prior to their now-cancelled appointments are permitted to return to their former positions.​

• No Salary Recovery: The court specified that individuals whose appointments have been terminated are not required to return the salaries they earned during their period of employment.​

• Directive for Fresh Recruitment: A new, transparent selection process has been mandated to fill the vacancies, ensuring adherence to proper procedures and merit-based appointments.​

This verdict underscores the imperative for integrity and transparency in public sector recruitment processes, aiming to restore public confidence and uphold the principles of fairness and meritocracy in government appointments.