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In a significant development, the Supreme Court intervened to suspend the Calcutta High Court's order instructing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate alleged irregularities in teacher recruitments in West Bengal. This decision comes as a relief for the Mamata Banerjee-led government, which faced immense scrutiny and challenges following the high court's directive.
In a significant development, the Supreme Court intervened to suspend the Calcutta High Court’s order instructing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate alleged irregularities in teacher recruitments in West Bengal. This decision comes as a relief for the Mamata Banerjee-led government, which faced immense scrutiny and challenges following the high court’s directive.
The apex court’s decision stemmed from a petition filed by the state government, contesting the high court’s ruling that nullified the appointments of 25,753 teachers and non-teaching staff recruited by the School Service Commission (SSC) in state-run and state-aided schools. The state government argued that the high court’s decision was arbitrary and failed to consider the severe consequences of abruptly terminating the appointed staff, causing disruption to the education system.
During the hearing, the bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Misra announced the stay on the CBI’s further investigation into the state government officials’ involvement. The court expressed concern over the immediate termination of thousands of staff and emphasized the need for a balanced approach to address the situation.
The Calcutta High Court’s order also mandated the CBI to probe individuals associated with approving supernumerary posts to accommodate allegedly illegal appointments. Additionally, the high court authorized custodial interrogation of implicated individuals, if deemed necessary by the investigative agency.
The suspension of the CBI probe marks a significant development in the ongoing controversy surrounding teacher recruitments in West Bengal. It provides temporary relief to the state government amidst mounting pressure and criticism. However, the broader implications of the high court’s ruling and the subsequent legal proceedings are likely to continue shaping the discourse on transparency and accountability in governance.
