Describing the alleged recruitment scam in West Bengal as a "systemic fraud," the Supreme Court emphasized the obligation of authorities to uphold digitized records related to the appointment of 25,753 teachers and non-teaching staff.
The court's remarks came during a hearing on Tuesday, May 7, as it addressed a series of petitions contesting the Calcutta High Court's decision from April 22, which invalidated the appointment of personnel in state-run and state-aided schools of West Bengal.
A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra expressed grave concern over the implications of the alleged fraud, highlighting the scarcity of public jobs and their significance for social mobility. Chief Justice Chandrachud underscored the importance of maintaining public trust, emphasizing that the integrity of appointments was essential to preserve faith in the system.
The bench questioned the state government's representatives about the maintenance and availability of the requisite data. It pressed the government to account for its failure to uphold digitized records, stressing the responsibility to supervise and ensure the integrity of such documentation.
The Supreme Court's remarks underscored the gravity of the situation and signaled the importance of accountability and transparency in public sector appointments. The hearing shed light on the need for stringent measures to prevent fraud and uphold the integrity of recruitment processes, particularly in vital sectors such as education.