Kolkata: The High Court’s verdict is a heavy blow to the Mamata government in the teacher appointment case. The Calcutta High Court quashed the 2016 recruitment process in government-sponsored and aided schools. With this, 25,753 teachers will lose their jobs. Moreover, after being appointed, they have to refund the withdrawn salary along with 12 percent interest. Justices Debangsu Basak, M.D Shabbar Rashidi. A bench comprising quashed the appointments and ordered a CBI probe.
The order said that the CBI report should be submitted within three months. With this, the appointments to 25,573 teaching and non-teaching posts have been cancelled. The Calcutta High Court also ordered that the appointees should return the salary received so far along with 12 percent interest within four weeks. Meanwhile, the court has given relief only to Soma Das, who is suffering from cancer. He will not lose his job.
23 lakh candidates appeared for 24,640 posts in the recruitment exam held in 2016. Of these, 25,753 people have received appointment orders, the plaintiffs’ lawyer Firdous Shamim pointed out in the court. The Calcutta High Court also dismissed the plea to stay the order. The court also directed to start the new appointment process within 15 days. On November 9, 2023, the Supreme Court directed the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court to appoint a division bench in the case.
