“Mentally Relaxed”: Mamata After SC Stays HC’s Order On Teachers’ Appointment

As the Supreme Court stayed the Calcutta High Court order regarding the appointment of school teachers in the state, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today hailed the verdict saying she is “happy and mentally relaxed” for receiving justice from the top Court.

Giving relief from the invalidation of the recruitment of the 25,753 teachers, the Supreme Court today paused the High Court order, cancelling over 25000 jobs appointed by the state’s School Service Commission (SSC) in the state-run and state-aided schools. The Calcutta High Court had on April 23 cancelled the recruitment of the teachers, while asking them to to return their salaries with interest.

The Chief Minister in her post on X (formerly Twitter) further congratulated the entire teaching fraternity and expressed her regards to the Supreme Court of India.

“I am really very happy and mentally relaxed on receipt of justice at the highest Court of the land. Congratulations to the entire teaching fraternity and my humble regards to the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India,” the TMC chief wrote. 

The bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, however, allowed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to continue with its investigation and probe even members of the state cabinet if required. 

The top Court also asked the central agency not to take any precipitative action like any arrest of any suspect during its ongoing investigation. The state government is also one of the petitioners in the case. 

Notably, the Court while delivering its verdict made it clear that if it finds out that the appointment was illegal, the teachers and non-teaching staff, whose recruitments were cancelled by the high court, will have to refund the salaries and other emoluments. 

The Supreme Court had called the alleged recruitment scam in West Bengal a ‘systematic fraud’ during the last week’s hearing. It also raised the concerns of the public faith in the systems and the government functions.

Noting that an expeditious hearing was needed in the matter, the Court listed the pleas for hearing on July 16. The Court also considered the submissions of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that the order staying the high court judgment may hamper the ongoing CBI probe. It stated that the CBI investigation would continue without any coercive action against the government officials and other officers.