HC Asks CBI To Probe Why Recruitment Of Teachers In Bengal Was Outsourced To Private Firm

The Calcutta High Court directed that the CBI should thoroughly investigate to find out why crucial work like the recruitment of teachers was outsourced to a private company.

New Delhi: The Calcutta High Court on Friday asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to submit a report within 7 days explaining why confidential work of the West Bengal Primary Education Board, such as the recruitment of teachers, was outsourced to the private company, M/s. S.Basu Roy and Co.

The report from the CBI, which is to be submitted in a sealed cover, should also inform whether any tender was floated by the board before selecting the private company for such work, the court said.

Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay directed the CBI to file the report by February 10.

While hearing a petition alleging irregularities in the appointment of primary teachers in state government-sponsored and aided schools, the court directed the agency to find out more about the mode of selection. 

The court further asked the CBI to thoroughly interrogate Manik Bhattacharya, the former president of the state's primary education board. "CBI should come with clear reports as to the findings on above questions," Justice Bhattacharya said.

The court also directed a former secretary of the board, Ratna Chakraborty Bagchi, to file an affidavit that clearly states the reasons why the additional panel for recruitment of the primary teachers was not published. 

The court noted that Bagchi in a previous statement said that the documents which were sent by the private firm as an additional panel to the board were not in accordance with the rules under which the selection process was initiated.

In January, the court removed an officer from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the CBI which is probing the alleged illegal appointment of teachers in primary schools in West Bengal.

Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay ordered the removal of investigating officer Somnath Biswas for allegedly failing to take ahead the probe in a proper manner.

The court had in June last year directed that an SIT of the CBI be formed led by a joint director of the anti-corruption branch of the central agency. The probe is intended to look into alleged irregularities in teacher recruitment for West Bengal government-sponsored and aided primary schools.