The West Bengal government is once again under pressure over the SSC recruitment scam. A contempt of court petition has been filed in the Calcutta High Court, alleging the state has failed to comply with the Supreme Court’s order to recover salaries from “ineligible” or “tainted” candidates whose appointments were cancelled.
The issue goes back to the April 3 Supreme Court verdict, which upheld the Calcutta High Court’s earlier order cancelling the entire 2016 SSC recruitment panel. As a result, 25,735 appointments were nullified. Importantly, the top court had also instructed that those who were deemed “ineligible” must return their salaries. However, over two weeks later, there has been no visible attempt by the state to enforce that order.
Failure to Recover Salaries:
Petitioners allege that despite the Supreme Court’s clear instructions, not a single ‘tainted’ candidate has returned their salary, nor has the state initiated any recovery proceedings. The contempt petition has been filed specifically against the Secretary of the Education Department, SSC Chairman, and Commissioner of Schools, accusing them of willfully ignoring court directives.
OMR Sheets Still Unpublished:
Another critical point raised in the contempt petition is the failure to publish OMR answer sheets, as previously ordered by the High Court. These sheets, many of which were recovered by the CBI, have not yet been made public. Petitioners argue that without transparency, the integrity of the recruitment process remains questionable.
Lawyer Sudipta Dasgupta, representing the petitioners, stated:
“Despite orders from both the High Court and the Supreme Court, salaries of proven ‘tainted’ candidates haven’t been recovered. The state is yet to remove their names from the salary portal or publish their answer scripts. Hence, we filed the contempt case.”
Relief for ‘Non-Tainted’ Candidates:
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court offered some interim relief to candidates who were not marked ‘tainted’. The apex court allowed them to continue attending school for now, citing the urgency of avoiding a collapse in the state’s education system. However, it clearly ordered the West Bengal government to begin a fresh recruitment process by May 31, and complete it by December 31, with a sworn affidavit to be submitted to the court.
Political and Administrative Implications:
This contempt case puts further pressure on the state government, which is already facing widespread criticism for alleged corruption in teacher recruitment. The unfolding legal battle is expected to have a significant impact on both education policy and the political climate in Bengal.