West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has strongly opposed the Supreme Court’s verdict that invalidated the jobs of nearly 25,000 teachers and non-teaching staff in the state, calling it unfair, harsh, and deeply distressing. While acknowledging that the ruling must be legally accepted, she expressed profound dissatisfaction, particularly over the blanket dismissal of all candidates without distinguishing between those who may have been involved in irregularities and those who were genuinely qualified. She insisted that the judgment was not only unjust but also a politically motivated move aimed at destabilizing Bengal’s education system.
The Supreme Court upheld a Calcutta High Court ruling that annulled the appointments made by the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) in 2016, citing a tainted and vitiated selection process linked to the infamous school jobs-for-cash scam. The ruling stated that while the appointments were being terminated, the affected employees would not be required to return salaries they had already received. However, Banerjee took strong exception to the complete cancellation of all jobs, arguing that there was no concrete proof that every single candidate had been involved in corruption. She emphasized that some of the appointees were innocent and had secured their jobs fairly, only to be unjustly punished along with the guilty.
Drawing a sharp parallel to the Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh, Banerjee accused the BJP of hypocrisy, questioning why similar scrutiny was not applied to recruitment scams in BJP-ruled states. She alleged that the central government was deliberately targeting Bengal with the intent of weakening its institutions, especially in the education sector. "Does the BJP government want to collapse the education system of Bengal? Why is there selective action against our state when so many scams happen in BJP-ruled states, yet no investigation takes place?" she asked.
Expressing deep concern over the psychological and emotional toll this verdict was taking on the dismissed teachers and staff, she warned that many were feeling hopeless and devastated. "Some of these candidates are getting depressed. If something happens to them, who will be responsible for their plight?" she questioned, urging them to remain strong and assuring them that the state government would stand by them. In a bid to provide moral support and reassurance, Banerjee announced that she would attend a gathering of the affected teachers on April 7, where she would personally listen to their grievances, offer guidance, and ensure that they received fair treatment in the reappointment process.
She further alleged that the judgment had a clear political motive behind it and accused the BJP and CPI(M) of working together to orchestrate the situation. She pointed out that the Calcutta High Court judge who had first ruled on the case was now a BJP MP, raising serious questions about the impartiality of the decision. "This was a calculated move by BJP and CPI(M) to target Bengal. They will get an answer soon," she declared, vowing to fight the issue legally and explore all available options to challenge the ruling.
Despite the Supreme Court’s directive, which allows non-tainted candidates to reapply for the positions, Banerjee assured that her government would expedite the recruitment process and ensure that deserving candidates were reappointed as soon as possible. She promised that the process would be completed within three months and that the SSC, though an autonomous body, would be monitored to ensure fairness and transparency in the fresh selection process.
Taking a firm and defiant stand, Banerjee reiterated her unwavering commitment to the teachers and non-teaching staff who had been dismissed. She accused the BJP of using legal and institutional mechanisms to undermine Bengal’s workforce and education system while ignoring larger recruitment scams in its own strongholds. "I will stand beside the teachers no matter what. BJP can put me in jail if they want, but I will not allow this injustice to happen without a fight. We are already exploring legal options to deal with this unfair judgment," she asserted.
Banerjee concluded by reminding the affected teachers that they were not alone and that her government would continue to fight for their rights. She urged them to stay united and assured them that she would do everything in her power to rectify the situation, even if it meant taking the matter back to court. "This is not just about jobs. It is about justice. We will not let BJP destroy the education system of Bengal. The people of the state will give them a fitting reply," she said, sending a strong message to both the opposition and the central government.
