April 3, 2025: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday voiced strong opposition to the Supreme Court’s recent ruling that upheld the Calcutta High Court’s decision to cancel the appointments of over 25,000 teaching and non-teaching staff hired by the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) in 2016. The ruling stemmed from a high-profile school jobs-for-cash scam, with the Supreme Court declaring the selection process "vitiated and tainted."
Speaking at a press conference, Banerjee expressed her inability to endorse the judgement, emphasizing that not all affected candidates should be penalized. "As a citizen, I can’t support this judgement. I hope it is not distorted. The court says the appointments of these candidates are cancelled. However, those who are employed need not be asked to refund any payment made to them," she stated.
The Chief Minister questioned the blanket dismissal, arguing that there was insufficient evidence to label all appointees as guilty. "The ones whom you call tainted, we don’t have proof regarding them. Does the BJP government want to collapse the education system of Bengal? What happened in Vyapam? Fifty plus people were killed," she said, referencing the notorious recruitment scam in Madhya Pradesh.
Banerjee acknowledged the Supreme Court’s directive allowing untainted candidates to reapply for positions. "The order states that candidates who are not tainted can appear for the fresh selection process. We will accept the judgement, and we will complete the process in three months. The SSC is an autonomous body, but we will ensure that it completes the reappointment process of teachers," she assured.
She also leveled accusations against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)], suggesting political interference in the judicial decision. "The judge who gave the first order in Calcutta High Court is now a BJP MP. I know that this was done by BJP and CPI(M). They will get an answer soon," Banerjee charged.
Expressing deep concern for the emotional well-being of the affected teachers, Banerjee urged them not to despair. "I am coming to know that some are getting depressed. If something happens to them, who will be responsible? Our lawyers will review this order," she said, promising legal scrutiny of the verdict.
The Chief Minister announced her intention to meet with the impacted teachers on April 7. "To all the teachers, they wanted to conduct a sabha, and they asked if I can be present. On April 7, I will participate in their sabha and listen to them. I will tell them not to lose hope. You all can apply, and we will make sure that the process is completed as soon as possible," she pledged.
Banerjee further accused the BJP-led central government of targeting West Bengal, questioning the lack of investigations into scams in BJP-ruled states. "So many scams in BJP-ruled states, yet no investigation happens. Is it a crime to be born in Bengal? Or are they afraid of Bengal’s talent? They want to collapse the education system of Bengal. I understand the target of BJP and the government of India," she remarked.
Reaffirming her solidarity with the teachers, Banerjee declared, "I will be beside the teachers. BJP can put me in jail if they want. We are thinking about how to deal with this legally."
The controversy continues to unfold as West Bengal grapples with the implications of the ruling and the political fallout, with Banerjee positioning herself as a staunch defender of the state’s education system and its workforce.