The Supreme Court of India has set a hearing for September to address the pleas from the West Bengal Government and others contesting a Calcutta High Court decision.
The High Court had nullified the appointments of 25,753 teachers and non-teaching staff in state-run and government-aided schools, citing irregularities in the hiring process.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, alongside Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, has given all parties until August 16 to file their responses. Chief Justice Chandrachud remarked, "Time for filing the written submissions for the petitioners in the West Bengal group of matters will be extended till next Friday," as quoted by Edex Live.
The bench also tasked the nodal counsel with creating a consolidated case record in electronic format, ensuring all relevant judgments are compiled into a single PDF document.
The Supreme Court is handling 33 petitions regarding the High Court's April 22 ruling, which cancelled the appointments due to procedural lapses.
On May 7, the Supreme Court temporarily relieved the affected teachers and non-teaching staff by following the High Court's order. Nevertheless, the court allowed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to continue investigating the alleged irregularities. The CBI has also been authorized to investigate members of the state Cabinet if needed.
This upcoming Supreme Court hearing is a critical juncture in the ongoing legal battle over the legitimacy of teacher and staff appointments in West Bengal, with the final decision poised to have significant implications for the state's education system.
