SC Cancels 25,753 WBSSC Appointments in Bengal Scam

The Supreme Court has delivered a major blow to the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government by upholding the Calcutta High Court’s decision to cancel 25,753 appointments made by the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) in 2016. The apex court found the recruitment process to be riddled with fraud and manipulation, ordering a fresh selection process to be conducted within three months.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice PV Sanjiv Kumar refused to overturn the High Court’s ruling, stating that the entire selection process was compromised. "The appointments were tainted by manipulation and fraud, stripping the process of its credibility and legitimacy," the Court observed.

While all affected teachers and non-teaching staff will lose their positions, the Court ruled that they will not be required to return the salaries they have received thus far. The verdict has intensified scrutiny on the state government and the WBSSC, raising serious concerns about corruption in public recruitment.

With fresh hiring mandated within three months, authorities now face the challenge of ensuring a transparent and fair recruitment process that restores faith in the system. The ruling marks a significant development in the ongoing investigation into the school jobs-for-cash scam, further tightening legal scrutiny on the recruitment irregularities in West Bengal.

Supreme Court overturns 25,753 WBSSC appointments, citing fraud in Bengal recruitment scam.