Big relief to Mamata govt: Supreme Court puts on hold HC order for CBI probe into Bengal teachers recruitment case

The Supreme Court on Tuesday quashed the Calcutta High Court's order ordering a CBI investigation into the West Bengal government's move to create supernumerary posts in the West Bengal School Service Commission teachers' recruitments.

The highest court, however, clarified that the CBI investigation as ordered by the Calcutta High Court into other areas concerned with the hiring of 25,753 teachers and staff members in West Bengal's state and aided schools would go on.

"Considering the above discussion we are of the opinion that the Calcutta high court was not justified in referring the question of creation of supernumerary posts to CBI as per the cabinet decision," said the Chief Justice of India Sanjeev Khanna as reported by The Telegraph.

The Supreme Court last week revoked over 25,000 appointments made in 2016. The state government had approached the apex court challenging the order.

On Monday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee promised to safeguard the jobs of "deserving" teachers whose appointment was cancelled by a Supreme Court order. She also referred to the case of the all-India medical entrance test NEET and stated that the top court had not cancelled the entire examination in that instance.

"The Supreme Court has to demarcate between who is entitled and who not. Give us the list. No one should be allowed to shatter the education system. In the case of Vyapam in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh, so many were murdered. They have never received justice so far. There were many accusations in NEET. The Supreme Court did not scrap the test. Why are you targeting Bengal? We wish to know. You are apprehensive of the talent of Bengal," she spoke to a delegation of terminated educators at Kolkata's Netaji Indoor Stadium.

The BJP had asked that Mamata and the Bengal cabinet ministers should be arrested for creating extra posts. They also demanded the CM's resignation.

The state had established supernumerary in state-run and state-aided schools. Over 23 lakh candidates had taken the state-level selection test in 2016. Vacant posts were 24,640, but 25,753 appointment letters were given. It was claimed that these supernumeric posts gave scope for illegal recruitment.

Irregularities in the recruitment of teachers had caused trouble for the Mamata Banerjee government. Several of the senior Trinamool leaders, including former education minister Partha Chatterjee, are now in jail as part of the case.