Mamata Banerjee slams SC verdict on Bengal teacher recruitment, pledges support for dismissed staff
PTC Web Desk: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee strongly opposed the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the termination of nearly 25,000 teachers and non-teaching staff recruited through the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) in 2016. The apex court ruled the appointments as "vitiated and tainted," reinforcing the Calcutta High Court’s previous order linked to the school jobs-for-cash scam.
Addressing the media on Thursday, Mamata Banerjee expressed her dissatisfaction with the ruling. “As a citizen, I cannot support this judgment. The court has cancelled these appointments, but those already employed will not be asked to return their salaries,” she stated.
The CM questioned the blanket dismissal of all appointees, arguing that not every candidate was involved in wrongdoing. She also compared the situation to Madhya Pradesh’s Vyapam scam, where multiple people lost their lives. “Does the BJP government want to destroy Bengal’s education system? We don’t have proof that every individual is guilty,” she added.
She assured that eligible candidates could reapply and that the state would facilitate the fresh selection process within three months. "The SSC is an autonomous body, but we will ensure the reappointment process is completed smoothly," she stated.
Additionally, she accused the BJP and CPM of political interference, alleging that the ruling was influenced by vested interests. She pointed out that the judge who initially ruled on the matter in the Calcutta High Court is now a BJP MP.
Expressing concern over the emotional distress caused by the verdict, the CM urged affected candidates not to lose hope. She announced her participation in a gathering of the dismissed teachers on April 7, where she would personally listen to their grievances.
Criticising the BJP-led Central Government, Mamata Banerjee accused them of selectively targeting Bengal while ignoring scams in BJP-ruled states. "Are they afraid of Bengal’s talent? Why do investigations happen only here? They want to dismantle Bengal’s education system," she alleged.
Standing firmly with the dismissed teachers, Banerjee vowed to explore legal options. "I will support them. If BJP wants, they can imprison me, but we will fight this legally," she declared.t
- With inputs from agencies
