Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court has quashed the appointment of around 36,000 candidates who were untrained at the time of their recruitment as primary teachers in West Bengal government-sponsored and -aided schools.
The decision comes as a part of the the ongoing investigation in the teacher recruitment job scam that has jailed prominent Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders Partho Chattopadhyay, Anubrata Mondal.
Passing the order, Justice Abhijit Gangopadhay observed that "corruption of this magnitude" was never known in the State of West Bengal, bringing a sense of relief for the petitioners. "The appointment of all 36,000 (more or less) candidates who were untrained at the time of recruitment in 2016 recruitment process conducted by the Board in the post of primary teachers are cancelled," Justice Gangopadhyay directed.
The West Bengal Board of Primary Education board has been accused of indulging in illegal means to offer jobs to at least 36,000 candidates in exchange for money. During the investigation, it was found that even TMC MLA Anubrata Mondal's daughter was a recipient of the job, illegally.
In the 17 page order, the Calcutta HC noted it is clear that the board and its officials including its former president Manik Bhattacharya, who is now in custody after arrest by the Enforcement Directorate for the alleged transaction of huge money in the recruitment procedure, conducted the “whole affair like that of a local club."
The court directed that the West Bengal Board of Primary Education will immediately arrange for a recruitment exercise within three months only for the candidates who participated in the 2016 appointment process. Candidates who have obtained training qualifications in the meantime will also be included in the exercise.
The court directed that in the exercise, both the interview and aptitude test of all examinees will be taken and the whole interview process has to be videographed carefully and preserved.