Supreme Court Upholds Verdict Invalidating West Bengal Teacher Appointments

The Supreme Court dismissed West Bengal's request to review its earlier decision invalidating 25,753 teacher appointments, citing a flawed recruitment process. The decision, supported by the Calcutta High Court, demands those affected return wages received, emphasizing integrity in hiring to prevent injustice.

The Supreme Court has dismissed the West Bengal government's plea for a review of its previous decision invalidating the recruitment of 25,753 teachers and staff in state-run and aided schools. This decision, initially made in April, found the selection process marred by irregularities.

Upholding a Calcutta High Court ruling from April 22, 2024, the Supreme Court criticized the recruitment process as 'vitiated and tainted.' The court's ruling demands that the affected individuals return their earned salaries, a step intended to preserve the integrity of the selection process.

The review petitions, including one filed by West Bengal, were not entertained by the bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kumar and Satish Chandra Sharma, reinforcing the focus on rectifying the flawed recruitment process. The case highlights lapses, such as OMR sheet tampering and failure to retain original documents, undermining the legitimacy of the recruitment.