In a significant development in the ongoing West Bengal school recruitment scam case, the Calcutta High Court on Monday directed the School Service Commission (SSC) to initiate a fresh recruitment process for teaching and non-teaching positions in state-run and state-aided schools — with a firm directive to exclude all candidates identified as “tainted” or “undeserving” during the investigation into the multi-crore cash-for-jobs scam that has rocked the state’s education system.
Justice Saugata Bhattacharya, delivering the order, dismissed arguments presented by SSC’s counsel Kalyan Bandyopadhyay, who is also a Trinamool Congress MP from Serampore.
Bandyopadhyay had contended that the Supreme Court’s ruling did not explicitly bar previously tainted candidates from applying again.
However, the high court clarified that those candidates who had obtained appointments by fraudulent means in the earlier 2016 recruitment process must be completely excluded from the ongoing and future recruitment drives.
The court made it unequivocally clear that any individual found to have used unfair, illegal, or fraudulent means to gain employment in government-affiliated schools will not be permitted to participate again, thereby upholding the integrity of the fresh selection process.
Background of the Scam and Supreme Court Verdict
The case stems from the massive School Service Commission (SSC) recruitment scam in West Bengal, which came to light following allegations of large-scale bribery and manipulation in the hiring process for school staff in the state.
In a landmark ruling delivered in April this year, a Supreme Court division bench comprising then Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjeev Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar upheld a previous Calcutta High Court verdict that had cancelled the appointments of over 25,753 teaching and non-teaching staff selected through the tainted 2016 State Level Selection Test (SLST).
The apex court strongly criticized the process, calling it “vitiated beyond repair”, and declared that the entire recruitment exercise was marred by fraud, manipulation, and systemic irregularities. The court had categorically stated that the SSC had failed to maintain transparency and fairness in the selection process.
CJI Khanna, in his judgment, remarked:
“The legitimacy and credibility of the recruitment process have been completely eroded. Fraudulent practices and large-scale manipulation have irreparably tainted the process. We find no reason to interfere with the High Court’s decision to cancel the entire recruitment.”
On the issue of “tainted candidates”, the Supreme Court was unequivocal. It stated that anyone who had benefited from these irregularities and had been conclusively found to be part of the fraud would have their selection declared null and void.
The court also pointed out that such fraudulent appointments violated Articles 14 and 16 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantee equality and fairness in public employment.
The apex court had further directed that the entire recruitment process be redone, and the new appointments must be completed before December 31, 2025.
Political and Legal Reactions
Reacting to the Calcutta High Court’s latest ruling, senior advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, who is also a Rajya Sabha MP from the Communist Party of India (Marxist), welcomed the court’s firm stand.
Along with advocate Anindya Mitra, he represented a group of “deserving” candidates who had been denied appointments despite following proper procedures.
Bhattacharya emphasized that the Supreme Court had left no room for interpretation — any candidate identified as tainted cannot be allowed to benefit from a fresh recruitment. Advocate Mitra echoed the sentiment, saying:
“The SSC is attempting to reopen the doors for individuals who bought their jobs in the past. This is a blatant violation of the Supreme Court’s clear and binding instructions. The Commission has failed to publish a transparent and updated list of eligible candidates for the fresh process.”
Mamata Banerjee Government’s Response and Future Steps
Following the cancellation of thousands of fraudulent appointments, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had announced a fresh recruitment drive to fill over 44,203 vacancies in teaching and non-teaching posts across state-run and aided schools.
The announcement came amidst massive public outcry and ongoing investigations into corruption within the education department.
Despite this, the government’s handling of the new recruitment process has been criticized for delays and a lack of clarity. Multiple litigations have been filed in the Calcutta High Court challenging the eligibility criteria and accusing the SSC of failing to act on the Supreme Court’s directives.
Justice Saugata Bhattacharya’s order now compels the SSC to strictly implement the exclusion of tainted candidates, reinforcing judicial oversight over what is considered one of the largest recruitment scams in Bengal’s history.
Scope of the Scam and Its Fallout
The scam has had far-reaching consequences. In addition to judicial action, it has led to the arrest of several high-profile figures, including former ministers, senior education department officials, and middlemen alleged to have accepted bribes in exchange for jobs.
Investigations by central agencies such as the CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) are ongoing, and millions of rupees in unaccounted cash have been seized from some of the accused.
As the state gears up to re-conduct the recruitment, the Calcutta High Court’s latest ruling serves as a stern warning — any attempts to compromise the integrity of the process will not be tolerated.
The ruling has also reinforced that public employment must remain merit-based, transparent, and free from political or financial influence.
