West Bengal Teacher's Recruitment Scam: How The Case Unfolded Since 2016

The West Bengal BJP has demanded Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee's resignation for the "plight" of the teachers. 

Supreme Court on Thursday invalidated the appointment of 25,753 teachers and other staff.

Source : X

Bengal Recruitment Scam: In a big setback for West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee, the Supreme Court on Thursday invalidated the appointment of 25,753 teachers and other staff in state-run and state-aided schools and termed the entire selection process "vitiated and tainted". The state BJP has demanded the chief minister's resignation for the "plight" of the teachers. 

Following is the timeline of events in the Bengal recruitment scam case:

*2016: West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) initiates recruitment process of State Level Selection Test.

*Apr 22, 2024: Calcutta HC annuls appointment of 25,753 teachers, non-teaching staff in West Bengal government-sponsored and aided schools. It declares the selection process as "null and void", orders CBI probe.

*Apr 29, 2024: West Bengal moves SC challenging HC order. SC stays HC order for CBI probe into recruitment scam. However, it refuses to stay the HC order cancelling appointments.

*May 7: SC stays HC order invalidating appointments.

*Jul 16: SC grants last opportunity to litigants, including West Bengal govt, to file responses.

*Dec 19: SC commences final hearing, questions state government as to why it created supernumerary posts instead of weeding out black sheep.

*Jan 15, 2025: Some litigants say that annulling all appointments adversely impacted lives and livelihoods of untainted candidates.

*Jan 27: Entire selection process vitiated due to malpractice and the state wanted to "protect" the illegal appointments, say few other litigants.

*Feb 10: SC reserves verdict on 127 pleas, says those who got jobs “wrongly” could be "knocked out".

*Apr 3: SC annuls appointment of 25,753 teachers and other staff in state-run and state-aided schools, orders fresh selection process.