The Supreme Court of India has scheduled a hearing on January 15 to address the challenges against a Calcutta High Court decision that invalidated the appointments of 25,753 teachers and non-teaching staff in West Bengal’s government and aided schools. Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, alongside Justices Sanjay Kumar and K V Viswanathan, will preside over the case which has significant implications for educational staffing in the state.
The legal battle follows a high court ruling that cited irregularities in the recruitment process, leading to a massive cancellation of jobs that had been granted following the State Level Selection Test (SLST)-2016. This test saw over 23 lakh candidates vying for 24,640 vacant positions, yet resulted in 25,753 appointments, an inconsistency that sparked controversy and scrutiny.
In an earlier session, the Supreme Court provided interim relief to the affected staff by staying their removal but allowed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to continue its probe into the alleged irregularities. The court even noted that the investigation could extend to members of the state cabinet if necessary.
During the upcoming hearing, the Supreme Court will decide whether to proceed with a complete re-hearing by a three-judge bench or continue with the current two-judge bench, which began hearing final arguments in December. Chief Justice Khanna highlighted that the matter requires meticulous consideration given its complexity and the vast number of affected individuals.
The bench has also taken proactive steps to streamline the proceedings by appointing four lawyers as nodal counsel, who are tasked with compiling a common electronic dossier of case details, aiming to enhance the efficiency and clarity of the legal process.
